Zinc Matrix powers up for future sales
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

RECHARGEABLE-Zinc Matrix Power employee Glen Robles fills silver-zinc battery cells with electrolyte.

It could be a Cinderella story for Zinc Matrix Power of Camarillo.

The relatively unknown rechargeable battery developer is poised to lead the industry to a new level when its silver-zinc battery debuts at the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco on Sept. 26-28.

The battery initially will be marketed to laptop and cellphone manufacturers and possibly later to the military, government and retailers.

Ross Dueber, president and chief executive officer, was recruited a year ago to move the high-performance battery out of the lab and into the marketplace.

He said it's taken 10 years and $32 million in research and development to come up with a viable alternative to lithium-ion batteries.

"We believe the market-the computer electronic industry-is very receptive to a safer alternative to lithium-ion batteries as long as it performs comparably," Dueber said.

Timing for the debut of the Matrix battery couldn't be better. Last month Dell Inc. recalled 4.1 million notebook computers because some of the lithium-ion batteries manufactured by the Sony Corp. can overheat and erupt in flames under certain conditions.

"We knew that something like this would happen," Dueber said of the recall. "It wasn't a question of if, but when."

Dueber said his company's product is the next step in the evolution of rechargeable batteries.

The state of California regulates the three types of rechargeable batteries currently on the market-nickel cadmium (NiCd), nickel metal hydride (NiMH) and lithium-ion (Li-ion)-as hazardous waste and prohibits disposing of them in landfills. In July, the state required retailers who sell them to have in place a free program that provides a way for consumers to dispose of the spent batteries.

Silver-zinc batteries, on the other hand, contain no lithium or flammable liquids. Not only are Matrix batteries safer but they have twice the run-time of lithium-ion and are better for the environment, Dueber said.

Additionally, the materials in the Matrix battery can be reused and recycled. Dueber said a refiner can extract silver and zinc from the used batteries for use in making more-what's called

cradle-to-grave-to-cradle technology.

Matrix batteries can't be used as replacements, because its electronics must be compatible with the device it's used to power. The battery has to be made to a device's specifications, Dueber said.

By the end of the year or early in 2007, Zinc Matrix Power plans to release its battery to one or more computer manufacturers for testing. If successful, Matrix will configure its battery to the computer products.

Before Dueber arrived last September, the company had offices in Westlake Village, Santa Barbara and Camarillo. Dueber centralized the facilities in Camarillo, where they occupy about 25,000 square feet of office space in an unassuming complex south of the 101 Freeway. It's here that the company conducts research and development and smallscale prototype manufacturing.

Tyco Electronics will oversee the high-volume battery manufacturing, Dueber said. "I like the manufacturing and business climate of Camarillo, it's very receptive," Dueber said of the decision to move here.

The city's amenities and relatively affordable housing prices also make it easier to attract talented employees, he said.

Camarillo seems to have responded with open arms. Thomas Kelley, Chamber of Commerce president, said he is impressed with Zinc Matrix, and said high-technology businesses bring in high-end, wellpaid professionals.

"We love this kind of company in Camarillo and the Chamber," Kelley said. "That's the ideal business for a community like Camarillo."

Of the company's 36 employees, seven, including Dueber, hold doctoral degrees.

The retired Air Force captain has a lengthy academic background that has propelled several careers, including chemistry professor at the Air Force Academy and vice president of a global heating, air conditioning and refrigeration company.

Zinc Matrix Power investors include Intel Corp. and the U.S. Army.