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History This Company has beaten the odds in its relatively short but complex history. Without government assistance, it has developed various breakthrough solutions in engineering and design, fought High Court litigation and survived destructive and malicious attempts to usurp its intellectual property , built up freehold property assets, licensed and spun off technologies into commercialization entities and proved what some never expected. This is our continuing story. Founded in July 1989 by Peter Witehira, at Hamilton, New Zealand, Power Beat International Limited produced the world’s first intelligent car battery. The battery utilized two types of cells and an electronic 'discharge management system' (DMS™). The Powerbeat DMS™ battery allowed motorists to re-start their vehicles without jumper leads or manually operated switches, even after headlights or other accessories may have been left operating without the engine running for long periods of time. The intelligent automatic system and DMS™ design proved its viability with some of the original DMS™ batteries still operating after 10 years in use. The Powerbeat DMS™ battery also won the prestigious R&D100 Award for Mr. Witehira and the Company in 1994, making the first such award for a New Zealand company. Despite this recognition and technological success externally generated problems plagued the Company. Numerous attempts were made to take over the company and have Mr. Witehira, who was not formally trained as a scientist, removed from management over the Company he founded. A small group of colluding shareholders engaged in predatory action over some years, even to the point of copying the Powerbeat battery and producing a competing version in China. These efforts were finally defeated in 2001 when a NZ High Court Judge, after a long drawn-out series of hearings, ruled for the Company and Mr. Witehira in a critical Judgment against the detractors. The years of attack, which included misleading allegations to regulatory bodies and extensive negative media coverage and the associated cost and loss of time, had however damaged the Company’s ability to fully capitalize on its innovative battery technology. The directors therefore made a decision to move ahead with other projects. In 1995 Mr. Witehira was introduced to Malaysia's Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Norman Ch'ng. Both became close friends and dedicated to establishing Power Beat as a center for efficient research and product design. Mr. Ch'ng assisted the Company and has remained a keen supporter of Mr. Witehira's efforts. Despite the disruptive maneuvers, the Company was able to establish a well-resourced and efficient research and development center at Airport Road, Mystery Creek, Hamilton. The attractive 16 acre site includes machine/tool shop, electronics lab and other facilities suitable for advanced development of practical consumer technology. Mr. Witehira, who was exonerated from any wrong-doing alleged by his detractors, set out to prove his imagination. A second major breakthrough came in early 1996 when Mr. Witehira envisioned a low cost approach to internal combustion engine production. His vision of an efficient extruded aluminum engine was proved correct when, after some three years of development with limited resources, Power Beat won an award for innovation from the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) for its Alu-X™ engine - the world’s first fully extruded and operating internal combustion engine. The award, along with other aluminum industry awards, recognized the engine as one of the most significant technologies for the world in the year 2000. The engine was also voted one of the best ten technologies for 2001 by the prestigious magazine, Automotive Engineering. In 1997 Mr. Witehira proposed an effective and efficient approach to video screen design and application. A multi-layered actual depth system was designed. This innovation was tested by the Company and with limited capital resources the Company was able to demonstrate "Deep Video Imaging™" with a hand-made prototype which has inspired a new approach to many aspects of flat video screen technology. The Deep Video Imaging™ technology also gained an R&D100 Award in 1999 when it was selected as one of that year’s winners of the "Nobel Prize for Applied Research". Still more challenges faced the Company. With limited cash resources, the Company struggled to advance with the development of these technologies. Nevertheless the Company’s decision to make earlier sacrifices and to establish a freehold R&D center with sophisticated engineering facilities enabled it to test and prove yet more breakthrough concepts. Mr. Witehira was joined full-time by Dr. Evan Bydder, an experienced physicist, with a conservative yet open-minded approach to science and engineering. Together the two have developed a strong bond and friendship. More importantly for the Company, Dr. Bydder has provided the Company with a depth of experience, particularly in physics theory and applied engineering. Mr. Witehira may conceive a solution to a particular problem, with Dr. Bydder’s role being to test the concept, research the known science and advise on relevant issues. Together the pair make a cost effective and powerful team. The Company continues to file the largest number of patents of any NZ Company. In 1999 a revolutionary approach to electronic commerce was proposed by Mr. Witehira. Later that year a "one click" chain reaction approach to remote consumer ordering was tested and proved feasible by the Company. The technology, code-named ‘Teleshopper’ allows consumers to order goods and services from electronic, print and static media with a push of just one button on a key-ring device. No further interaction is required by the user. The technology is startling for its simplicity and low cost approach to human interaction. Although it is the subject of ongoing negotiations about commercial implementation, the Teleshopper concept is expected to have a significant possible impact on all humanity. At the beginning of 2000, Mr. Witehira proposed a revolutionary approach to telecommunications. After watching and studying a praying mantis’ compound eye design, Mr. Witehira tested a simplified application of this biophysical phenomenon to allow high speed free space data transfer. It worked and the evolving technology was subsequently named MegaMantis™! A new partnership has been formed with an experienced and innovative Australian businessman, Ross Palmer. Both Peter Witehira and Ross Palmer have formed a strong bond and commitment to turn brilliant ideas into advancement for the good of humanity - MegaMantis™, Gigamantis™, Petamantis™. |
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