C&D Technologies Introduces the New C&D TRUE FRONT ACCESS(TM) Battery System

BLUE BELL, Pa., Aug. 21 -- C&D Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:CHP) , a leading North American producer and marketer of batteries, battery systems and integrated standby power systems, today announced the release of the new C&D TRUE FRONT ACCESS advanced Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) batteries for telecommunication applications.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080821/NETH037 )

The continued growth and reliance on data, voice and video communications applications through wireline and wireless systems has driven the need for highly reliable, and increasingly energy dense and cost efficient battery storage solutions. The market for energy storage devices for telecommunications systems in North America alone now exceeds $500 Million, with the global market more than doubling this number to over $1 billion per year.

With the announcement of C&D Technologies' new C&D TRUE FRONT ACCESS battery family, the company addresses a portion of the telecommunications market in which it had not previously participated. As the largest provider of lead-acid batteries to the telecommunications industry in North America, expansion into this segment of the market is a natural fit, building upon decades of sales to all of the major telecommunications companies. These unique batteries will set a new standard of performance in the industry, supporting the build out of new digital fiber optic based systems and upgrade of existing systems requiring added runtime to meet minimum 8 hour backup standards.

Under development for over two years, C&D's new C&D TRUE FRONT ACCESS batteries have been designed in cooperation with the major North American telecommunications companies, through focused "Voice of the Customer" product design reviews. Following successful design demonstration and manufacturing trials, advanced samples of these batteries have been placed with telecommunications operators for early qualification testing. Based on the positive customer feedback that continues to be received, C&D anticipates rapid market acceptance and expansion of market share in this increasingly vital portion of the telecommunications market.

C&D's new C&D TRUE FRONT ACCESS batteries combine field proven reliability of the C&D TELECOM product line with the most advanced design, materials and process technologies available today. Recognizable by their unique front terminal features (patent pending), these batteries offer telecom customers unsurpassed advantages including:

  -- TRUE Front access terminals, ensuring system reliability & connection
     versatility;
  -- TRUE High Energy Density, offering the highest energy solution in the
     market;
  -- TRUE Performance, 100% out of box capacity ratings at installation;
  -- TRUE Long life design, achieving industry leading 13+ year service
     life;
  -- TRUE Seismic Design, offering the highest capacity energy storage
     system;
  -- TRUE Flexibility, with multiple models available to fit each customer's
     unique system power demands.

"The introduction of C&D's newest product family, the C&D TRUE FRONT ACCESS battery system, further strengthens C&D's #1 North American market share position in stationary energy storage solutions," said Dr. Jeffrey Graves, President and CEO of C&D Technologies. Dr. Graves continued, "We are proud to offer these new products which will address the rapidly increasing needs of our full video, voice and data digital-services customers, setting a new benchmark in battery performance and life, while retaining the existing system foot print for maximum customer convenience. With the demonstrated market need from our current customers, we would estimate that this new product family should provide $50 million in an incremental cumulative revenue opportunity over the next three years, exceeding approximately $30 million in annualized sales by 2011, as it penetrates the market in North America. In addition, we will use this design as a platform to more aggressively penetrate the rapidly developing markets outside of North America as we now set our sights on expanding from our #1 position in North America to become the global leader in energy storage solutions."

Dr. Graves concluded, "Coupled with our announcement last quarter of the new and groundbreaking msEndur(R) II battery product family, targeted at wireless telecommunications and data center applications, our expectations for growth in our company continue to rise. We would now expect that the combination of these two major new product families announced this year should provide a cumulative growth opportunity of over $90 million over the next three years. On an annualized basis, this would translate to an estimated incremental annualized revenue opportunity of $50 million by 2011. We expect further exciting new product announcements later this year as our advanced designs continue to move from concept demonstration into production."

Please contact a C&D Representative or contact C&D at 800-543-8630 / http://www.cdtechno.com/

C&D Technologies, Inc.

C&D Technologies' provides power solutions and services for the telecommunications, uninterruptible power supply (UPS), switchgear and control (utility), and emerging markets. C&D Technologies engineers, manufactures, sells and services fully integrated reserve power systems for regulating and monitoring power flow and providing backup power in the event of primary power loss until the primary source can be restored. C&D Technologies' unique ability to offer complete systems, designed and produced to high technical standards, sets it apart from its competition. C&D Technologies is headquartered in Blue Bell, PA. For more information about C&D Technologies, visit http://www.cdtechno.com/.

C&D(R) is a registered trademark of C&D Technologies, Inc.