Travel Tales: Brazil’s Burgeoning Economy Positions Palladium Energy for Success

Last Sunday, I left the U.S. for our Brazil sales and marketing meeting and arrived in Manaus, Brazil mid-day on Monday. I tried something new for this trip –a red eye flight there and back which was actually not too bad – besides wanting to brush my teeth and take a shower immediately when I landed!

Some of Palladium’s Brazilian and Global Sales Team Members: Enivaldo Silva, Anson Martin, Sandro Veranda and Kevin Kim

Our sales and marketing meetings are collaborative, educational and designed to
spur innovation. Over a packed two-day period, I was able to share the latest industry trends in lithium-based battery pack technology.  We also discussed manufacturing opportunities based on our ability to manufacture a diverse mix of products including battery packs, PCM/PCBA, WLAN Cards and TV PSUs as well as emerging market activity in Brazil that will help us grow our business.

I also shared reasons why the Brazil economy is growing—which is pretty astonishing. Brazil is classified as one of the top three emerging geographies* (in addition to Argentina and Mexico) because of:

• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): In 2010, Brazil received U.S. $33 billion – 59 percent more than in 2009, and the 10th largest FDI in the world.
• Expanding Purchasing Power: Recent social, monetary and tax policies have led to a significant credit expansion – increasing purchasing power by the middle class and generating major demand for CE products.
• Infrastructure Projects: Transportation investments required to support 2014-2016 sporting events and additional ports are needed and must be integrated with roads, railroads and waterways.
• Electric power and expansion of alternative energy sources and investments.

In return, I was able to learn specifics from the sales team about our existing and new sales strategies.  I even had the opportunity to meet one of our largest customers—a mega, global mobile/smart phone OEM—and understand what’s happening in their world these days.

Sandro Veranda getting ready to bowl!

After the late-night dinners consisting of a lot of red meat (at one of the most unique open-air restaurants) and even an extremely crazy bowling game where I beat most of the sales team members (ka-chow), it was time to return home. Now the fun part really starts for me and my team—finalizing global marketing plans for 2012 and beyond!

*Frost & Sullivan 2011 

 

Rebecca Kritzman, director of marketing

Smart Meters and Cool Summer Savings

Temperatures across the country are on the rise, and if the heat hasn’t gotten to you yet, the sticker shock from your electric bill will surely make you work up a sweat!  Thankfully, many residents live in municipalities that are joining the smart grid, allowing them to find some cool savings this summer by using a smart meter in their home.

In fact, thanks to government incentives, it’s estimated that by 2015, 18 percent of the world’s meters will be converted to smart meters for a total of 250 million smart meters worldwide.  In the United States, cities from Burlington, Vt., to Augusta, Ga., are opting to convert their electric meters to these energy-saving devices.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average annual household electric bill is $1,148.   Typically, smart meters allow consumers to reduce energy consumption by 10 to 15 percent, which means a smart meter could put approximately $175 back into your pocket each year!  In addition, since commercial electricity bills account for 30 to 40 percent of annual operating budgets, it’s no wonder that business leaders are looking to smart meters for company cost savings.

Smart meters differ from traditional electrical meters by offering added functionality such as real-time usage reads, power outage notifications and power quality monitoring. The meters also reflect service providers’ ability to implement varying prices for consumption based on the time of day and the season.  For example, prices of electricity are increased during peak usage periods and reflected on the smart meter device, encouraging consumers to use less energy during peak periods in order to save money.

But even in the smart grid, power outages are inevitable. Therefore, a smart meter must contain reliable backup power in electric smart meters or independent power in gas or water smart meters in order to maintain its real time clock and avoid disruption in the grid’s unique two-way communication.  Lithium Thionyl Chloride (Li-SOCl₂) is one of the ideal chemistries for smart meters because it can operate in a range of global climates with solid reliability and minimal maintenance.

If you’re lucky enough to have a smart meter installed in your home or place of work, here are some tips to maximize your energy savings this summer:

• Create a contest that encourages your family or coworkers to turn off lights, unplug electronics, etc. and award prizes if your usage dips to a certain level.  You can monitor these levels using the real-time usage reads on your smart meter.

• Since service providers lower energy rates on weekends, plan your family’s meals for the week and do the majority of your cooking on off-peak days.

• Run your dishwasher and washing machine during off-peak periods (i.e. after 11 p.m. and on weekends).  Also run them on full loads to reduce the number of wash cycles.

• Adjust your air conditioner to warmer temperatures during peak periods and cooler temperatures during off-peak periods.

Palladium Energy stays abreast of the newest technologies and is entrenched in emerging markets – including green power. Our expertise in lithium-based battery technologies includes Lithium Thionyl Chloride (Li-SOCl₂), and is why the world’s largest smart meter manufacturers turn to Palladium for independent and backup power solutions.

-          Rebecca Kritzman, director of marketing

 

Palladium Battery Packs – On the Front Lines

Between the barbecues, baseball games and fireworks, I wanted to take the opportunity to wish everyone a happy Fourth of July on behalf of Palladium Energy.  This weekend I’ve enjoyed watching TV programming about American history and the men and women who defend our country’s freedom.  Currently, more than 369,000 active-duty United States military personnel are deployed outside of U.S. borders, working in combat zones and on peace-keeping missions.

A solider uses a two-way radio to communicate in combat.

At Palladium, we’re proud to design and manufacture lithium-based battery packs for the U.S. military and defense contractors.  Our design engineers have developed battery packs used in various military devices from missiles to two-way radios.  In fact, our battery packs are used every day on the front lines in places like Iraq – helping soldiers communicate seamlessly, target accurately and launch weapons flawlessly.

The battery packs we manufacture in our global facilities for military devices meet the Department of Defense’s strict requirements for safety, reliability and life cycle while meeting custom requests for portability and environmental exposure.  For example, battery packs that are intended to operate in military devices must be ruggedized and able to operate in a range of climates – from extreme heat to frigidity.  Palladium’s technology experts, design engineers and the safety experts at our independent lab, IQ Laboratories, work hard to ensure every detail has been met in order to help our military personnel operate as effectively and safely as possible.

Serving our country is the ultimate sacrifice, and at Palladium, we salute the men and women in uniform who protect our borders and promote international security.  We’re proud to be a very small part of the heroic efforts that happen every day in the air, on the water and on foreign soil.

Happy Fourth of July!

-          Rebecca Kritzman, director of marketing