XC Technology and Photon Automation Announce Strategic Collaboration to Power New Energy and Battery Storage Manufacturing Solutions through Photon Energy

[Greenfield, IN] – XC Technology, a leader in advanced manufacturing and battery technology advisory, announced a strategic collaboration with Photon Automation, a renowned expert in turn-key manufacturing systems and laser welding applications. This collaboration will significantly bolster Photon Automation's newly established subsidiary, Photon Energy, which will focus on offering comprehensive, turn-key energy storage system (ESS) contract manufacturing services.

The partnership brings together XC Technology's deep expertise in advanced manufacturing processes and its proven battery pedigree with Photon Automation's extensive capabilities in integrated manufacturing systems and precision laser welding. This synergy will enable Photon Energy to provide unparalleled solutions for the rapidly growing energy storage market.

"We are thrilled to partner with Photon Automation to launch Photon Energy," said Ben Wrightsman, Founder of XC Technology. "Our shared vision for innovation in cutting edge manufacturing and our complementary strengths will allow Photon Energy to become a premier provider of energy storage system manufacturing services. XC Technology's experience in optimizing production for complex battery technologies and turn key assemblies, combined with Photon Automation's turn-key system systems build and integration, creates a powerful offering for the market."

Photon Energy will leverage this collaboration to offer a complete suite of services, from design support and prototyping to full-scale production and quality assurance for various energy storage applications. This includes:

• Turn-key Energy Storage System Contract Manufacturing: Providing comprehensive manufacturing solutions for a wide range of ESS products (portable, motive, grid, industrial).
• Advanced Manufacturing and Assembly: Implementing cutting-edge manufacturing techniques for efficient and high-quality production.
• Precision Laser Welding Applications: Utilizing Photon Automation's specialized expertise for critical welding processes in ESS components.
• Battery Production and Optimization: Leveraging XC Technology's battery process pedigree for seamless integration and performance plus safety optimization for next generation energy systems.

William Huffman, CEO at Photon commented, "The collaboration with XC Technology is a pivotal moment for Photon Automation and the launch of Photon Energy. The demand for reliable and efficient energy storage solutions is escalating, and by combining our expertise, we are uniquely positioned to meet this need with comprehensive, high-quality manufacturing services. XC Technology's leadership in battery and advanced products manufacturing will be instrumental in delivering cutting-edge solutions to our clients."
This strategic alliance underscores both companies' commitment to advancing the energy storage industry by providing robust, scalable, and innovative manufacturing solutions. Photon Energy is poised to become a key player in accelerating the deployment of next-generation energy storage technologies.

About XC Technology: XC TECHnology (XC TECH) collaborates with technology startups, fast growth innovators, and established companies to help them understand, deploy, and drive advanced energy, innovative battery, and high-technology solutions that impact and sustain everything around us. Our team combines decades of comprehensive experience and business acumen in chemistry, battery cell, and battery pack; high voltage/power electronics and BMS (Battery Management Systems); testing and validation; facility and manufacturing readiness; safety and performance; training and workforce development, event response and investigation.
As innovators, entrepreneurs, engineers, and executives we understand how to help you enhance products, people, and places.  From idea inception, through manufacturing maturity, and into circular second life, our team can guide you to unlocking innovation, accelerating growth, scaling potential, and ensuring sustainability.

About Photon Automation: Our team at Photon Automation, Inc. has been developing automated machines that use advanced manufacturing processes since 2000. Specializing in industrial laser technology, Photon Automation utilizes their three applications laboratories and state-of-the-art lasers and optics to develop processes for laser welding, cutting, drilling, cleaning and engraving. With expertise in robotics, vision systems, industrial controls and other technologies, our engineering-based organization routinely solves difficult manufacturing challenges and integrates these methods into our high-performance automated systems. Our understanding of a wide range of technologies and industrial processes allows the engineers and technicians at Photon Automation to develop equipment that seamlessly integrates advanced manufacturing while making it simple to use in a factory environment. Our products and services range from simple fixtures and stand alone machines to full production lines.

About Photon Energy: Capitalizing on our collective expertise as automation developers and our history of automating processes that assemble and test battery systems, we launched Photon Energy, our contract manufacturing division. We offer services that are particularly helpful for companies in early development of their products, with design for manufacturability (DFM) consultation leading the way. Early product prototypes can be assembled and analyzed for design improvements, while leading to best practices for assembly and testing of new designs. Low to mid volume product assembly and test allows our clients to develop their product designs, often in conjunction with the development of their fully automated production lines. This parallel approach provides the fastest path for product launch at scale.