Ridgetop Selected by C & D Technologies for Electronic Prognostics in DC to DC Converters

Electronic Prognostics added to DC/DC Converters

September 7, 2004, Tucson, Arizona – C&D Technologies Power Electronics Division has announced its intentions to support the Ridgetop Group, also based in Tucson, in the development of Electronic Prognostics specifically used within Switch Mode Power Supplies and DC/DC Converters.

Under a contract from the Navy’s Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program Office, Ridgetop has been tasked with developing advanced techniques and prognostic models to support the JSF’s initiatives in the Prognostics/Health Management (PHM) area. PHM relates measurable precursors to useful life remaining and performance life remaining predictions for electronic system power supplies. Ridgetop has developed a cost effective and easily adoptable approach for standard power supplies. The prognostic solution is expected to prevent 80% of impending random and end-of-life failures. When used with event-driven maintenance, such a prognostic methodology will effectively increase the mean-time – between failure (MTBF) five fold.

C&D Technologies plans to deploy prognostics in selected high performance switching power supplies and DC/DC converters. According to Doug Goodman, Ridgetop’s CEO “Ridgetop is pleased to work with such an innovative and progressive firm as C & D Technologies. C &D has demonstrated its capabilities in many demanding applications and we are glad to work with such a forward-thinking firm”.

About C&D Technologies, Inc.

C&D Technologies, Inc. is a technology company that produces and markets systems for the power conversion and storage of electrical power, including industrial batteries and electronics. This specialized focus has established the company as a leading and valued supplier of products in three major categories - reserve power systems, electronic power supplies and material handling systems. Corporate headquarters are in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, USA. The company is traded on the NYSE under CHP.

The Power Electronics Division of C&D Technologies, Inc. designs, manufactures and distributes power supplies for military, industrial and commercial applications, DC to DC converters, digital panel meters, data converters and magnetics, and offers these products in custom, standard and modified-standard variations. These products, which are built to exacting requirements in several facilities located in North America, Europe, Mexico and China, are typically used in telecommunications, computer, military and other high-performance products supplied by Original Equipment Manufacturers to a variety of customers worldwide. The Power Electronics Division is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona.

About Ridgetop Group, Inc.

Ridgetop Group is the leader in advanced electronic prognostics and reliability tools for highreliability applications. Founded in 2000, Ridgetop has developed effective solutions for critical applications for customers such as DARPA, Navy, Missile Defense and NASA. Ridgetop is based in Tucson, Arizona.