VALENCE U-CHARGE™ POWER SYSTEM TO BE EVALUATED BY
GRAHAM-FIELD
Saphion® Technology Tested as Power Source for Wheelchairs
AUSTIN, TX, MARCH , 2004 – Valence Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: VLNC), a leader in
the development and commercialization of Saphion® technology, the only safe large
format Lithium-ion rechargeable battery technology, today announced that the UCharge™ Power System will be evaluated by Graham-Field Healthcare Products, a
major manufacturer and distributor of healthcare products. The Saphion-based UCharge™ Power System will be assessed for use in power wheelchair products.
The power mobility market is one of the fastest growing markets in the medical
equipment sector. The U-Charge Power System is a direct replacement for the sealed
Lead Acid battery systems currently available in the power mobility market. The UCharge Power System delivers greater energy density and better reliability at a lower
cost of ownership than Lead Acid batteries. The inherent safety of Saphion Lithium-ion
technology enables the creation of a large format product, such as the U-Charge
system, and eliminates safety and environmental concerns associated with other
technologies.
"We expect Saphion technology will have a significant impact on the mobility market for
healthcare, which utilizes sealed Lead Acid batteries in a wide variety of applications,”
stated Stephan Godevais, chairman and CEO of Valence. “We believe the U-Charge
Power System will enable Graham-Field to provide its wheelchair customers with power
to be completely mobile for an entire day and in the end, facilitate a better quality of life”.
“We have been waiting a long time for a Lithium-ion technology that was safe enough to
be manufactured in unique dimensions for our industry,” Joe Ticer, Director of Mobility
and Rehab of Graham-Field. “Saphion technology and the U-Charge product have the
potential to be a true breakthrough for the mobility market and could impact all aspects
of design and function for powered wheelchairs.”
About Valence Technology, Inc.
Valence is a leader in the development and commercialization of Saphion® technology,
the only safe large format Lithium-ion rechargeable battery technology. Valence holds
an extensive, worldwide portfolio of issued and pending patents relating to its Saphion®
technology and Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. The company has facilities in Austin,
Texas, Henderson, Nevada and Mallusk, Northern Ireland. Valence is traded on the
NASDAQ SmallCap Market under the symbol VLNC and can be found on the Internet at
www.valence.com.
About GF Health Products, Inc.
Graham-Field Health Products located in Atlanta, GA is a major manufacturer and
distributor of healthcare products for the homecare, long-term care and acute care
markets. Products include standard and power wheelchairs, homecare and long-term
care beds, patient aids, diagnostics and specialty seating products.
Graham-Field has manufacturing facilities located in Fond-du-Lac, WI, Denver, CO,
Indonesia, Taiwan and China. Graham-Field's name brand products include Everest &
Jennings, LaBac, Simmons Healthcare, John Bunn, Labtron and Lumex.
Media Contact
Investor Contact
Lois Paul Partners, LLC
Karen Siuda
[email protected]
512-638-5307
Valence Technology, Inc.
Mike Russell
[email protected]
(512) 527-2921
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