Sono-Tek Announces Laboratory Expansion for Catalyst Coated Membranes to Meet Demand

Rhea-AI Summary

Sono-Tek Corporation (NASDAQ: SOTK) has announced a significant expansion of its laboratory facilities in New York to meet the rising demand for its ultrasonic coating machinery, which applies catalyst coatings onto membranes for clean energy applications. The expansion includes three new coating platforms and increased lab space. This move is part of Sono-Tek's strategy to cater to the growing customer base in the carbon capture, fuel cell, and electrolysis markets, with expectations of continued sales growth in production-level machines.

Positive

• Expansion of New York laboratory facilities to increase capacity.
• Addition of three new coating platforms to meet rising demand.
• Growing customer base in carbon capture, fuel cell, and electrolysis sectors.

Negative

• None.

Customer Base for Carbon Capture, Fuel Cell, and Electrolysis Applications is Expanding

MILTON, NY, Nov. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- Sono-Tek Corporation (NASDAQ: SOTK), the leading developer and manufacturer of ultrasonic coating systems, today announced the expansion of its New York laboratory facilities for catalyst coated membranes.  

The expansion is driven by a strong increase in demand for Sono-Tek’s ultrasonic coating machinery used to apply catalyst coatings onto membranes.  The expansion will include the addition of three new coating platforms as well as expanding the existing laboratory facility to accommodate the new machinery. The expansion will be at the New York lab location, which shares a campus with Sono-Tek’s headquarters. 

Including the New York lab, Sono-Tek has six applications labs located at distributor sites around the world; all of which are staffed with engineers who have experience working with customers on ultrasonic coating solutions. In the advanced energy markets, many customers look to Sono-Tek for both the coating machinery and the application engineering support to make high quality membranes. The Company’s team of application engineers and lab personnel have the necessary expertise to guide customers through the complete process of developing successful thin film coatings. Frequently, customers will visit the Sono-Tek lab prior to purchasing their ultrasonic coating solutions, which allows the Company’s team of technical coating experts to help develop the optimal process with the customer.

Chris Cichetti, Vice President of Applications Engineering, commented, “The additional lab space and new coating machinery will allow us to accommodate an accelerating increase in customers needing support with new applications from the clean energy sector, in particular for applying catalyst coatings onto membranes.  We’ve also been expanding our laboratory services to include contract coating, which can be ideal for a customer that is early in the development process of their product, and prior to owning their own Sono-Tek machine.”

Added Steve Harshbarger, President and COO of Sono-Tek, “This is an exciting time for Sono-Tek in the clean energy sector. Our customer base for Carbon Capture, Fuel Cell, and electrolysis applications is expanding as both governments and private industry recognize the urgency to implement these technologies for the well-being of our planet.  Sono-Tek has long offered machinery in this area for coating the proton exchange membrane used in fuel cells, but now we have expanded our capabilities into several additional and similar membrane coating applications. At one time our equipment was primarily focused on the R&D sector for clean energy market applications, but as these markets mature, we are selling a significantly higher number of production level machines, and we predict this trend to continue.  Our applications engineering expertise and laboratories are a vital part of providing successful solutions for our customers, and we expect to complete this expansion within the next 4 months to meet the increasing demand.”

 To learn more about Sono-Tek laboratory coating services visit the following link: https://www.sono-tek.com/service/process-knowledge/

To learn more about Sono-Tek machinery for the application of coating membranes, visit the following link: 

https://www.sono-tek.com/industry/alternative-energy-nanomaterials/electrolyzer/

About Sono-Tek

Sono-Tek Corporation is the leading developer and manufacturer of ultrasonic coating systems for applying precise, thin film coatings to protect, strengthen or smooth surfaces on parts and components for the microelectronics/electronics, alternative energy, medical and industrial markets, including specialized glass applications in construction and automotive.

The Company’s solutions are environmentally-friendly, efficient and highly reliable and enable dramatic reductions in overspray, savings in raw material, water and energy usage and provide improved process repeatability, transfer efficiency, high uniformity and reduced emissions.

Sono-Tek’s growth strategy is focused on leveraging its innovative technologies, proprietary know-how, unique talent and experience, and global reach to further develop microscopic coating technologies that enable better outcomes for its customers’ products and processes.

For further information, visit www.sono-tek.com.

Safe Harbor Statement 

We discuss expectations regarding our future performance, such as our business outlook, in our annual and quarterly reports, news releases, and other written and oral statements. These “forward-looking statements” are based on currently available competitive, financial and economic data and our operating plans. They are inherently uncertain, and investors must recognize that events could turn out to be significantly different from our expectations and could cause actual results to differ materially. These factors include, among other considerations, general economic and business conditions; political, regulatory, tax, competitive and technological developments affecting our operations or the demand for our products; the duration and scope of the COVID-19 pandemic; the extent and duration of the pandemic’s adverse effect on economic and social activity, consumer confidence, discretionary spending and preferences, labor and healthcare costs, and unemployment rates, any of which may reduce demand for some of our products and impair the ability of those with whom we do business to satisfy their obligations to us; our ability to sell and provide our services and products, including as a result of continued pandemic related travel restrictions, mandatory business closures, and stay-at home or similar orders; any temporary reduction in our workforce, closures of our offices and facilities and our ability to adequately staff and maintain our operations resulting from the pandemic; the ability of our customers and suppliers to continue their operations as result of the pandemic, which could result in terminations of contracts, losses of revenue; and further adverse effects to our supply chain; maintenance of increased order backlog, including effects of any COVID-19 related cancellations; the imposition of tariffs; timely development and market acceptance of new products and continued customer validation of our coating technologies; adequacy of financing; capacity additions, the ability to enforce patents; maintenance of operating leverage; maintenance of increased order backlog; consummation of order proposals; completion of large orders on schedule and on budget; successful transition from primarily selling ultrasonic nozzles and components to a more complex business providing complete machine solutions and higher value subsystems; continuing demand for contract coating and catalyst coating equipment; and realization of quarterly and annual revenues within forecasted range of sales guidance. We refer you to documents that the company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which includes Form 10-K and Form 10-Qs containing additional important information.

For more information, contact:

Stephen J. Bagley
Chief Financial Officer
Sono-Tek Corporation
info@sono-tek.com

Investor Relations:
Stephanie Prince
PCG Advisory
(646) 863-6341
sprince@pcgadvisory.com

FAQ

What recent developments has Sono-Tek Corporation made in its New York lab?

Sono-Tek has expanded its New York lab facilities to include three new coating platforms to meet increased demand for its ultrasonic coating machinery.

How does Sono-Tek plan to address the growing demand for clean energy applications?

The company aims to enhance its laboratory services and expand its customer support for applications in carbon capture, fuel cells, and electrolysis.

What is Sono-Tek's focus area related to its recent expansion?

The expansion is focused on supporting developments in catalyst coatings for membranes, primarily in clean energy markets.

What is the expected impact of the expansion on Sono-Tek's operations?

The expansion is expected to allow Sono-Tek to accommodate an accelerating increase in customers needing support with new applications.