Litex Selects Saturn Electronics & Engineering
5 October 1999
Litex Selects Saturn Electronics & Engineering To Manufacture Vehicle Emission Control System
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 5 -- Litex, Inc. announced today an
agreement with Saturn Electronics & Engineering, Inc. (Saturn) to manufacture
the Corona Discharge Device (CDD), a revolutionary new product for the auto
industry that significantly decreases vehicle exhaust emissions.
The product development and manufacturing agreement calls for Saturn, a
Michigan-based supplier of electronic, electrical and electromechanical
systems, to build the new device for Litex. With the agreement, the CDD is
expected to be ready for volume production by September 2000.
California-based Litex owns and has exclusive rights to the patents and
pending patent applications on the CDD. The CDD is based on technology
initiated by Lockheed Martin Corp. The device generates a non-thermal plasma
in the exhaust stream of a gasoline-powered car or light truck, ahead of the
vehicle's catalytic converter. This alters the chemical composition of
exhaust gases, enabling the converter to operate more efficiently and making
it more sulfur tolerant. The CDD can be installed on new-production vehicles
or retrofitted on older ones.
"The joint effort between Litex and Saturn to bring the CDD to market will
provide the automotive industry with unprecedented capabilities to reduce
pollutants in engine exhaust," said Dr. Leon Ekchian, president and CEO of
Litex. "This will help the industry meet stringent new emissions standards
being proposed by regulatory agencies. We are pleased to be working with
Saturn, which has established a reputation for producing high quality
automotive systems."
"We have invested extensive hours of testing to ensure the CDD product is
robust and will perform in meeting automotive emissions requirements. We also
are honored to have been selected by Litex as the manufacturer," said Wally
Tsuha, president and CEO of Saturn Electronics & Engineering, Inc.
Testing Process
Since 1997, Litex has conducted extensive testing of the CDD in Cambridge,
Mass. in the laboratories of the research and development firm Arthur D.
Little, Inc. Additional testing has been done by automobile manufacturers and
other independent organizations.
During testing, the CDD was operated on V-6 and V-8 automobile engines
running under loads that simulated a wide range of driving conditions. Fuels
with varying sulfur contents were tested. Ekchian said results indicate that
the CDD substantially reduces harmful hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide and oxides
of nitrogen emissions. The CDD's "self-cleaning" capability also can
significantly reverse sulfur poisoning while prolonging the life span of a
catalytic converter, he said.
Ekchian said the CDD's ability to improve catalytic converter efficiency
and enhance sulfur tolerance could enable automotive manufacturers to install
smaller converters containing less precious metal. He said this could reduce
the production cost of new vehicles.
About the Two Companies
Litex is an advanced electronics company established in August 1996 to
develop and commercialize high value products that demonstrate strong market
potential and offer cost-effective solutions to complex industrial and
consumer needs. Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., Litex also has
offices in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. and Cambridge, Mass.
Saturn Electronics & Engineering is a global supplier of electronic,
electrical and electromechanical systems to the automotive, commercial,
computer, military, medical and telecommunications industries. The company,
established in 1985, is growth-oriented with focus on producing high value,
quality products and services. Saturn's headquarters are in Auburn Hills,
Mich. The company has 18 manufacturing facilities and technical centers
located worldwide to service its global customer base.