Oorja Protonics Inc has received additional purchase orders from its South African strategic partner and, on 2 May, celebrates its new Fremont site with a ceremonial ribbon cutting.

The direct methanol fuel cell system developer is collaborating with Cape Town-based HySA/Catalysis, one of three Hydrogen South Africa centres of competence. HySA/Catalysis distributes Oorja fuel cell systems for forklift, mining and telecommunication tower applications, initially through partners in the provinces of Limpopo and Western Cape.

The ribbon-cutting event will involve elected officials and business leaders in the City of Fremont in Alameda County, to the south-east of San Francisco Bay. Oorja leaders include Sanjiv Malhotra, the company's founder, chief executive officer and president.

In January, to increase manufacturing space, Oorja moved about 5 mi. (8 km) within Fremont to a facility with 28,000 sqft. (2,601 sqm) for production functions and about 2,000 sqft. (186 sqm) for office activities. Oorja began operations in 2005 and has more than 500 systems in commercial use.