David Savastano, Editor05.11.10
We live in a world where electronic devices are all but an essential part of our daily lives. Cell phones keep us in contact with family, friends and work; we carry our music, our photos and so much more, ready at a touch of a button.
There are times, though, when the ability to communicate is cut off by a simple lack of power, as the battery of the electronic device runs out of power and no easy opportunity exists to recharge the battery.
Neuber GmbH & Co. KG, headquartered in Ludwigsburg, Germany, may have a solution for this problem. In conjunction with Konarka, Neuber GmbH has developed its innovative Sun-Bags, which feature integrated Konarka Power Plastic solar panels for its handbags and backpacks. As a result, the user can plug in their phone, laptop, digital cameras or MP3 player and get a quick charge.
The company was founded in 2006 by managing director Jürgen Neuber and his wife. The product range includes bags and backpacks manufactured from a wide variety of materials in various styles and price categories. Neuber said the concept of recharging electronic devices in a handbag is an excellent idea for our time.
In 2009, Konarka asked Luxor Solar GmbH if they knew somebody who could manufacture solar bags for their solar panels. Luxor answered that they know somebody: Neuber. A meeting between Neuber and Konarka was arranged and the first contact was very positive. After this a partnership began.
Konarka had done groundbreaking work on organic photovoltaics (OPV), and were printing these third-generation solar cells.
“Our partners from Konarka had received the Nobel Prize for developing OPV cells in 2002,” Neuber said. “They first printed on OPV cells. The solar bags from Neuber GmbH integrate these OPV solar cells, and are the first commercial product for OPV cells.
“Our solar bags are an absolutely green product, with outstanding quality and fashionable design,” Neuber added. “They are an excellent value for the money, and a good price for an outstanding quality.”
The Power Plastic solar panel supplies 1.5 to 2.0 watts, and therefore has its own decentralized and fully independent power sources. Power is also generated under artificial light without any need for sunshine.
The Solar Energy Bags are made of various lightweight materials, ranging from tarpaulin and polyester to nylon and felt. Sun-Bags weigh only 500 grams including the battery, bag structure and solar panel, and are available in dozens of colors with optional custom printing.
Neuber GmbH is earning strong reviews for its solar bags. The company recently won IDTechEX’s European commercialisation award for the best innovative product during the Printed Electronics Europe 2010 conference in Dresden, Germany.
"I am very proud that I was announced to get the award and it was a big surprise for me,” Neuber said. “It is a fantastic feeling. I also like to say thank you to my team, that the commercialization of the solar energy bag has such a success. It shows that the product is innovative and it has good commercialization, and it motivates me to launch new innovative solar products. My product, the Energy Sun Bag, shows the German know-how in line with the American innovative technology from Konarka´s integrated power plastic solar panels.”
Neuber said that the solar bags are doing well in the market, and in July, Neuber GmbH & Co. KG will relocate to larger premises in the court-side building in Ludwigsburg to meet the rapidly growing demand.
“We distribute the solar bags in our Internet store (www.energy-sunbags.de), we have a worldwide trade fair appearance and we are doing PR and press campaigns,” he said. “We have an online presence, brochures and ads. The interest is very high. We made a competition analysis in line with a survey. The age of the target group is between 15 and 55 years. The result was that 85% of the respondents would buy our bag.”
Those are numbers that would certainly make any manufacturer happy.
Neuber GmbH & Co. KG, headquartered in Ludwigsburg, Germany, may have a solution for this problem. In conjunction with Konarka, Neuber GmbH has developed its innovative Sun-Bags, which feature integrated Konarka Power Plastic solar panels for its handbags and backpacks. As a result, the user can plug in their phone, laptop, digital cameras or MP3 player and get a quick charge.
The company was founded in 2006 by managing director Jürgen Neuber and his wife. The product range includes bags and backpacks manufactured from a wide variety of materials in various styles and price categories. Neuber said the concept of recharging electronic devices in a handbag is an excellent idea for our time.
In 2009, Konarka asked Luxor Solar GmbH if they knew somebody who could manufacture solar bags for their solar panels. Luxor answered that they know somebody: Neuber. A meeting between Neuber and Konarka was arranged and the first contact was very positive. After this a partnership began.
Konarka had done groundbreaking work on organic photovoltaics (OPV), and were printing these third-generation solar cells.
“Our solar bags are an absolutely green product, with outstanding quality and fashionable design,” Neuber added. “They are an excellent value for the money, and a good price for an outstanding quality.”
The Power Plastic solar panel supplies 1.5 to 2.0 watts, and therefore has its own decentralized and fully independent power sources. Power is also generated under artificial light without any need for sunshine.
Neuber GmbH is earning strong reviews for its solar bags. The company recently won IDTechEX’s European commercialisation award for the best innovative product during the Printed Electronics Europe 2010 conference in Dresden, Germany.
"I am very proud that I was announced to get the award and it was a big surprise for me,” Neuber said. “It is a fantastic feeling. I also like to say thank you to my team, that the commercialization of the solar energy bag has such a success. It shows that the product is innovative and it has good commercialization, and it motivates me to launch new innovative solar products. My product, the Energy Sun Bag, shows the German know-how in line with the American innovative technology from Konarka´s integrated power plastic solar panels.”
Neuber said that the solar bags are doing well in the market, and in July, Neuber GmbH & Co. KG will relocate to larger premises in the court-side building in Ludwigsburg to meet the rapidly growing demand.
“We distribute the solar bags in our Internet store (www.energy-sunbags.de), we have a worldwide trade fair appearance and we are doing PR and press campaigns,” he said. “We have an online presence, brochures and ads. The interest is very high. We made a competition analysis in line with a survey. The age of the target group is between 15 and 55 years. The result was that 85% of the respondents would buy our bag.”
Those are numbers that would certainly make any manufacturer happy.