Sprintex Ltd (ASX:SIX) continues to make progress on many aspects of its strategy encompassing clean air compressor technology.
The compressor engineering, research, product development and manufacturing company is exploring a number of ventures as it works to bring its technology to market.
In a nutshell, Sprintex designs and manufactures electric and mechanically driven clean air compressors that can be used in combustion engines, hydrogen fuel cells and industrial, oil-free, clean air applications, including wastewater treatment.
Outlining today’s company update, Sprintex managing director Jay Upton said: “Our projects are tracking well and we are looking forward to delivering on our numerous programs.”
Working with Aeristech
Sprintex has shipped off samples of its 6-kilowatt, 10-kilowatt and 25-kilowatt e-compressors to English aerospace company Aeristech.
Currently, the Sprintex and Aeristech engineering teams are engaged in technical discussions, which will help both parties prepare for more durability tests next month.
All 30 of the initial samples will be delivered to Aeristech by the end of August.
Sprintex has also secured a purchase order from Aeristech for an industrial blower system, which will feature Sprintex’s mixed-flow e-compressor design.
The ~A$31,000 system is expected to deliver the first demonstrator to Aeristech UK in July, where it will be installed with Aeristech’s own motor and motor inverter.
Beyond the purchase orders, Sprintex has completed the initial design work on a 6-kilowatt heating, ventilation and air conditioning e-compressor for Aeristech.
Feedback for the design, which incorporates a 150,000-rotations-per-minute, ultra-high-speed, two-stage compressor assembly, is resoundingly positive so far.
While Sprintex is in collaboration with Aeristech, the company will develop its own motor design and customised AC inverter for heat pump systems (as the Sprintex industrial e-compressor does).
This opens to the door to the heat pump market and Sprintex hopes to consider this vertical’s feasibility and viability down the line.
Fuel compressor project in pipeline
Alongside the latest Aeristech order, Sprintex is working on a purchase order for a new 5-kilowatt fuel cell compressor.
The product design has been given the greenlight, so Sprintex will deliver five initial samples to the customer in July.
To cover design and sample costs, the client paid Sprintex ~A$33,000.
On next month’s calendar
July is shaping up as a busy period for the Sprintex team; the company plans to cut the ribbon on its first production-ready axial flow industrial e-compressor by month’s end.
The technology will use the ASX-lister’s patented axial flow e-compressor, which is powered by a customised, high-speed, three-phase motor convertor that can deliver more than 98% efficiency.
Sprintex also plans to release its patented S15i 3kW e-compressor platform in July.
This platform features an air-cooled motor and integrated controller — and it weighs between 3 and 3.5 kilograms.
What’s more, the company’s variant models are compatible to both a 48-80V DC input and a three-phase AC input.
Sprintex said it had fielded lots of interest in the new product range and it would keep the market updated on further developments.
Finally, Sprintex’s 25-kilowatt fuel cell compressor will be upgraded in July using a Sprintex in-house motor design and highly customised motor controller.
Sprintex will provide samples to fuel cell manufacturers in August.
Automotive performance division
Sprintex’s automotive performance division delivered the first of its generation 2 supercharger systems for the Jeep Wrangler JK, JL and JT variants this month.
Looking ahead, the company expects to scale up to full production of this product range in July.
Meanwhile, Sprintex said development work on its Toyota Tacoma supercharger system was well advanced.
Promisingly, a new design that shares many common components with the company’s Jeep systems has allowed the system to be developed with lower design, tooling and production costs.
Subsequently, the company said there was potential for improved margins on both its Jeep and Toyota Tacoma systems.
Sprintex plans to launch the Toyota Tacoma at the SEMA Automotive convention in November this year.