ECD Ovonics Announces Changes in Management Roles and Responsibilities as Part of Its Restructuring Strategy
Rochester Hills, Michigan, United States September 1, 2005
Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (Nasdaq:ENER) announced today that,
with the increasing acceptance of and demand for its Ovonic products as it
continues its transition from a highly successful advanced technology research-oriented
company to a more commercially focused manufacturing business, its Board
of Directors has approved changes in its corporate organizational structure.
All
production manufacturing and commercial operations will now report
to James R. Metzger, executive vice president and chief operating
officer. Stanford
R. Ovshinsky, currently president and chief technology officer, will be
named president and chief scientist and technologist. In this position,
he will
continue to lead the development of the full potential of the emerging "Hydrogen Economy," while focusing on further developing the science and technology of amorphous and disordered materials. Both Stan Ovshinsky and Jim Metzger continue to report to Robert C. Stempel, chairman and CEO of ECD Ovonics. The three executives comprise the office of the chairman, responsible for the Company's overall strategic direction.
To
better serve the diverse photovoltaic market demands, the Board
also approved the formation of two solar divisions.
The
Ovonic Solar-Terrestrial Division which will report to Jim Metzger,
will
have responsibility for manufacturing and sales of building-integrated
photovoltaic (BIPV) and PV roofing products. This division will
also be responsible for the current 25/30MW solar module manufacturing
plant in Auburn Hills, Michigan, as well as the recently announced
second 25/30MW plant. The
Terrestrial division serves a highly competitive and rapidly growing
market, with multiple
customers mostly from the building, roofing and construction
industries. As
chief operating officer, Jim Metzger will also be responsible for
the Production Technology and Machine Division,
hydrogen storage canister production, and the two joint ventures
now in
commercial production, Cobasys LLC, a 50-50 nickel metal hydride
battery manufacturing joint venture between ECD Ovonics and
Chevron Corporation, and Rare-Earth Ovonic, a joint venture with
Inner
Mongolia Baotou Steel Rare-Earth High Tech Co., Ltd.
The
Ovonic Solar-Space and R&D Division will
report to Stan Ovshinsky who continues to direct the overall
advanced PV technology. Ovonic Solar-Space and R&D will have responsibility
for government and military contracts, research and development,
and the advanced ultra-lightweight PV for space and airship applications
being developed under a contract with the U.S. Air Force. The
Space and R&D division, due to its unique customers in the military
and certain government agencies and industrial users, will be
devoted to the development of new and advanced technology, such
as meeting the rigorous demand of outer space and improved efficiency. As chairman of the Ovonyx joint venture, Stan has joint responsibility
with Tyler Lowrey, president
of Ovonyx. Ovshinsky also is responsible for the advanced solid
hydrogen storage
and cognitive computer development programs.
ECD
Ovonics is the leader in the synthesis of new materials and the
development
of advanced production technology and innovative products.
It has invented, pioneered and developed its proprietary, enabling
technologies
in the fields of energy and information leading to new products
and production processes based on amorphous, disordered and
related materials. ECD Ovonics' proprietary advanced information
technologies
include Ovonic phase-change electrical memory, Ovonic phase-change
optical memory and the Ovonic Threshold Switch. The Company's
portfolio of alternative energy solutions includes Ovonic thin-film
amorphous
solar cells, modules, panels and systems for generating solar
electric power; Ovonic NiMH batteries; Ovonic hydride storage
materials capable of storing hydrogen in the solid state for use
as a
feedstock
for fuel cells or internal combustion engines or as an enhancement
or replacement for any type of hydrocarbon fuel; and Ovonic
fuel cell technology. ECD Ovonics designs and builds manufacturing
machinery
that incorporates its proprietary production processes, maintains
ongoing research and development programs to continually
improve its products and develops new applications for its technologies.
ECD Ovonics holds the basic patents in its fields. More information
on ECD Ovonics is available on www.ovonic.com. |