Firms develop advanced smart connector

Vancouver-based tech start-up VoltSafe Inc. has reached a strategic partnership with Menlo Microsystems Inc. to co-develop what they are calling “the most advanced” electrical plug technology ever invented.

Both companies are strong proponents of advancing how the world connects to electricity, and the combination of Menlo Micro’s Ideal Switch technology with VoltSafe’s advanced smart electrical outlet and connector is setting out to enable the future of next-gen smart power connectivity.

VoltSafe Inc. has reached a strategic partnership with Menlo Microsystems Inc. to co-develop what they are calling “the most advanced” electrical plug technology ever invented. Source: VoltSafe

Seeing deficiencies in existing relays and switches that caused the products they operated to be bigger, slower, less capable, or more expensive, Menlo Micro set out to create a better solution and developed Ideal Switch – a significant electronic component innovation since the transistor. The firm refers to Ideal Switch as the electronic industry’s “Holy Grail” – a device that delivers all the benefits of a mechanical relay and a semiconductor switch, with no compromises. The Ideal Switch is tiny, fast, reliable, withstands extreme temperatures, is ultra-low loss and can handle 1,000s of watts.

Disrupt traditional world of relays and switches

This March, Menlo Micro announced its USD$150 million Series C, bringing its total cumulative funding to more than USD$225 million. Vertical Venture Partners and Tony Fadell’s Future Shape led the round. Menlo’s Micro’s confidence in VoltSafe’s disruptive technology powering the future of how the world connects to electricity, paved the way for this early collaboration.

“Our goal is to innovate and empower our partners to disrupt the traditional world of relays and switches,” said Chris Giovanniello, co-founder and SVP marketing at Menlo Micro. “With our Ideal Switch technology, we are committed to delivering the best and highest performance switching technology to create a more energy efficient and sustainable world, with an entirely new category of electronic switches. We look forward to working with VoltSafe to help the entire electrical ecosystem unlock the promise of next-gen smart power connectivity.”

“Our goal is to innovate and empower our partners to disrupt the traditional world of relays and switches”

Recognized for reinventing the pronged electrical plug with the first ever prong-less magnetic electrical plug for high power, VoltSafe  developed the ground-breaking, patented Canadian technology in 2015. Since then, the firm has created the world’s safest, simplest, and smartest plug design since electricity came into homes more than 140 years ago.

Four years ago, VoltSafe successfully pitched on Dragon’s Den, receiving three offers above ask, and recently won the BC Cleantech Newcomer award at GLOBE Cleantech 2020. Its first product to market is VoltSafe Winter – a magnetic plug for block heaters.  The company’s current product pipeline includes magnetic plug replacement solutions for household, commercial, marine, electric vehicles, and more.

Create thinner, smarter outlet systems than ever before

VoltSafe continues to rapidly expand into multiple verticals, while partnering-up with Menlo will enable the B.C. company to produce even more sleek embodiments with faster, thinner switches and optimal GHG emission reduction features.

“Integrating Menlo technology into our product embodiments will elevate the efficiency of our connector solutions, allowing us to create even thinner, smarter outlet systems than ever before. We’re working extremely hard, co-developing a pilot project for a major reveal in the short months ahead,” says VoltSafe CTO, Sanad Aridah.

VoltSafe has discovered a smarter and safer way to connect to electricity using magnets. Importantly, its patented technology empowers retail producers, industries, governments and essential services to do their jobs more safely, efficiently and sustainably. The firm’s patented tech allows power to only flow once hot, neutral and ground are connected which means they are completely safe to the touch, even if exposed. VoltSafe products also provide power-metering down to the plug level for a granular overview of how much electricity is being consumed at the outlet level.

The firm started its year off right, capturing two Innovation Awards at CES in Las Vegas this January – recognizing both VoltSafe Home and VoltSafe Marine.

————————–

http://www.voltsafe.com/