LATHAM, N.Y., Aug. 21, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG), a leading provider of energy solutions that change the way the world moves, recently welcomed students from the Troy Riverfront Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) Summer Bridge Program. This program is one of only a select few programs of its kind in the state, putting high school students on a direct career path to the region’s most in-demand fields including technology, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing. Plug Power was honored to be able to support this important local program by creating a special day for two groups of students.

“I was really impressed by the natural leadership shown by the students during their visit. At their age it’s not always about asking the right questions, but rather asking all the questions. The students more than excelled in this and engaged in discussions around global warming, the changes we need to make, and how hydrogen is an alternative source that can power devices needed by people all over the world,” said Manikandan Ramani, Plug Power’s Director of Chemical Engineering. “Education is a seek mission that is never ending, and myself and the engineering team were thrilled to be a small part of the educational journey for these students.”

For the student visits, Mr. Ramani and his team set up three stations that allowed the groups to get an up close and interactive look at the process of assembling a hydrogen fuel cell stack.

  • The first station explained the process of gasketing. Here, the students used a robot to apply on the gaskets and then later checked the quality of the sealing.
  • The second station allowed the students to assemble bipolar plates and Membrane Electrode Assemblies (MEAs) into modules, and then check them for leaks.
  • The final station focused on testing. Here, the students tested the assembled fuel cell stack and incubated them to full performance, then verified that they met customer requirements.

“We thank Plug Power for welcoming our students to their facility and for engaging them in conversation about careers in the industry,” said Nancy Smith, P-TECH Math Teacher. “We are honored to work with organizations like Plug Power that actively engage our students and provide insight about technical jobs as well as the professional skills needed to be successful in these industries.”

In addition to the stations, representatives from Plug Power provided the students with an overview of the industry in the boardroom, followed by a full tour of the Latham facility, giving students the opportunity to ask numerous members of the engineering team their questions, and see various jobs throughout the company first hand.

“Throughout the years, Plug Power has partnered with a number of universities to further the education of college students and industry research. I’m thrilled that we’re now able to share our team’s passion for the science and technology fields with a younger set of students, as they begin to explore what their future passions will be,” said Plug Power CEO Andy Marsh. “The whole team at Plug Power looks forward to many more educational initiatives with our local community and beyond.”

About Plug Power Inc.
The architect of modern hydrogen and fuel cell technology, Plug Power is the innovator that has taken hydrogen and fuel cell technology from concept to commercialization. Plug Power has revolutionized the material handling industry with its full-service GenKey solution, which is designed to increase productivity, lower operating costs and reduce carbon footprints in a reliable, cost-effective way. The Company’s GenKey solution couples together all the necessary elements to power, fuel and serve a customer. With proven hydrogen and fuel cell products, Plug Power replaces lead acid batteries to power electric industrial vehicles, such as the lift trucks customers use in their distribution centers. Extending its reach into the on-road electric vehicle market, Plug Power’s ProGen platform of modular fuel cell engines empowers OEMs and system integrators to rapidly adopt hydrogen fuel cell technology. ProGen engines are proven today, with thousands in service, supporting some of the most rugged operations in the world. Plug Power is the partner that customers trust to take their businesses into the future. www.plugpower.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
This communication contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve significant risks and uncertainties about Plug Power Inc. ("PLUG"), including but not limited to statements about PLUG's expectations regarding growth in Europe, revenue, growth with GenKey customers and its project financing platform. You are cautioned that such statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times that, or by which, such performance or results will have been achieved. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in these statements. In particular, the risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the risk that we continue to incur losses and might never achieve or maintain profitability; the risk that we will need to raise additional capital to fund our operations and such capital may not be available to us; the risk that our lack of extensive experience in manufacturing and marketing products may impact our ability to manufacture and market products on a profitable and large-scale commercial basis; the risk that unit orders will not ship, be installed and/or converted to revenue, in whole or in part; the risk that pending orders may not convert to purchase orders, in whole or in part; the risk that a loss of one or more of our major customers could result in a material adverse effect on our financial condition; the risk that a sale of a significant number of shares of stock could depress the market price of our common stock; the risk that negative publicity related to our business or stock could result in a negative impact on our stock value and profitability; the risk of potential losses related to any product liability claims or contract disputes; the risk of loss related to an inability to maintain an effective system of internal controls or key personnel; the risks related to use of flammable fuels in our products; the cost and timing of developing, marketing and selling our products and our ability to raise the necessary capital to fund such costs; the ability to achieve the forecasted gross margin on the sale of our products; the risk that our actual net cash used for operating expenses may exceed the projected net cash for operating expenses; the cost and availability of fuel and fueling infrastructures for our products; market acceptance of our products, including GenDrive, GenSure and GenKey systems; the volatility of our stock price; our ability to establish and maintain relationships with third parties with respect to product development, manufacturing, distribution and servicing and the supply of key product components; the cost and availability of components and parts for our products; our ability to develop commercially viable products; our ability to reduce product and manufacturing costs; our ability to successfully expand our product lines; our ability to successfully expand internationally; our ability to improve system reliability for our GenDrive, GenSure and GenKey systems; competitive factors, such as price competition and competition from other traditional and alternative energy companies; our ability to protect our intellectual property; the cost of complying with current and future federal, state and international governmental regulations; risks associated with potential future acquisitions; and other risks and uncertainties referenced in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). For additional disclosure regarding these and other risks faced by PLUG, see disclosures contained in PLUG's public filings with the SEC including, the "Risk Factors" section of PLUG's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included in this presentation and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and PLUG undertakes no obligation to update such statements as a result of new information.

SOURCE: PLUG POWER

Media Contact 
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