SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 17, 2003
SONEX RESEARCH, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in Charter)
Maryland 0-14465 52-1188993
(State or other (Commision file (IRS employer
jurisdiction of number) identification no.)
incorporation)
23 Hudson Street, Annapolis, MD 21401
(Address of principal executive offices)
(410) 266-5556
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
ITEM 5. - OTHER EVENTS
On April 17, 2003, Sonex Research, Inc. (the "Company") posted the following
news announcement on its website (www.sonexresearch.com):
SONEX RECEIVES AUTOMOTIVE DIESEL ENGINE FOR TESTING UNDER DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
SUBCONTRACT
ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND, April 17, 2003 - SONEX RESEARCH, INC. (OTC BB: SONX)
announced today that it has taken delivery of an advanced research automotive
diesel engine for testing under a subcontract from Compact Membrane Systems,
Inc. (CMS), of Wilmington, Delaware, the prime contractor for a U.S. Department
of Energy (DOE), Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program, Phase II
award. Sonex is evaluating the emissions reduction capability of its patented
piston-based, Sonex Combustion System (SCS) te chnology in combination with a
polymer membrane technology being developed by CMS.
In December 2002 Sonex announced the receipt of a $458,862 subcontract, of which
$100,000 is cost-shared (funded) by Sonex, under DOE's SBIR Phase II prime
contract award to CMS, but reported at that time that arrangements to secure the
designated engine for the testing had not been completed. Sonex today disclosed
the recent delivery to Sonex of the test engine, a state-of-the-art,
three-cylinder, direct injected (DI), turbo-charged, automotive diesel engine
developed by a major international vehicle man ufacturer in the joint U.S.
government and automotive industry funded PNGV (Partnership for a New Generation
Vehicle) program. Accountability for the engine has been transferred to the CMS
Phase II contract, but it remains the property of DOE.
According to the December 2002 announcement by Sonex, CMS has developed a
polymer membrane technology for the addition of nitrogen enriched air (NEA) to
the diesel engine combustion process as a means to reduce significantly the
in-cylinder production of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions as an alternative
to the use of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). If successful, the CMS method
could provide the benefits of EGR with reduced risk to engine wear, without the
burden of additional hardware and without sig nificant impact on the
turbo-charger. In the past, however, the introduction of high levels of EGR to
reduce NOx emissions has been shown to substantially increase the production of
soot/particulate emissions
The SCS piston-based technology for in-cylinder control of ignition and
combustion has produced significant reductions of diesel engine
soot/particulates while keeping NOx emissions low. One of the world's leading
engine engineering and powertrain consulting firms, Ricardo Consulting Engineers
Ltd of the U.K., completed a study in which they reported that in a laboratory
test, a six cylinder DI diesel engine used in medium-duty trucks, operating with
the SCS piston at the best injection timings, emitted u p to 45% less soot than
the stock engine, with equivalent fuel consumption.
The SBIR Phase I feasibility study performed by the two companies on the Sonex
laboratory, single-cylinder, normally aspirated, DI diesel engine, showed that
the NEA polymer membrane and the SCS piston in the single-cylinder engine,
supercharged by Sonex, have the potential for significant reduction of NOx
without increasing soot/particulate emissions. These results led to the award by
DOE to CMS of the Phase II contract to transfer the single-cylinder results to
the PNGV advanced research, three-cylinder automotive diesel engine.
Early stages of the Phase II project will focus on the emissions reduction
capabilities of the SCS pistons separately, while subsequent testing in
combination with the NEA membrane will demonstrate the viability for
commercialization of the synergy of SCS configurations and the CMS membranes.
This program would provide SCS in-cylinder emissions reduction data on a
multi-cylinder diesel engine as a means for diesel engine manufacturers to
evaluate the potential for SCS designs, alone and in combination wit h the NEA
membrane, to reduce the cost and complexity of future exhaust aftertreatment
systems.
ABOUT CMS
Compact Membrane Systems, Inc. (CMS) is a high technology membrane company
providing a family of high productivity, fluorinated polymeric membranes for gas
separation and the associated production of nitrogen and oxygen enriched air.
CMS hollow fiber membrane modules, sized to process engine intake air, are small
enough to fit in mobile engine compartments. Their chemical nature allows them
to maintain performance over extended periods of time while located in the harsh
engine environment. CMS working i n conjunction with major industrial gas
companies is positioned to customize prototype membrane systems for engine use
and subsequently supply commercial modules. More information about CMS can be
found on the Internet at www.compactmembrane.com.
Contact: Compact Membrane Systems, Inc., Stuart Nemser, 302-999-7996, email:
snemser@compactmembrane.com.
ABOUT SONEX
Sonex Research, Inc., a leader in the field of combustion technology, is
developing its patented Sonex Combustion System (SCS) piston-based technology
for in-cylinder control of ignition and combustion, designed to increase fuel
mileage and reduce emissions of internal combustion engines. Sonex plans to
complete development, commercialize and market its SCS Stratified Charge Radical
Ignition (SCRI) combustion process to the automotive industry in response to
forthcoming increases in national vehicle fuel mileage standards. Presently,
high mileage, roomy and safe five-passenger automobiles using gasoline, direct
injected (GDI) engines are sold only in Japan and Europe due to high emissions.
Sonex intends to conclusively demonstrate that SCS-SCRI will enable GDI engined
vehicles to achieve 50 mpg (highway) while meeting emissions standards to permit
sale in the U.S. as a viable, near-term alternative to longer-term solutions
such as improvements in hybrid propulsion systems or years of further R&D
required for fuel cell technology to become practical.
Additionally, independent third-party testing has confirmed the potential of the
SCS application for DI diesel engines to reduce harmful soot in-cylinder without
increasing fuel consumption. Sonex is pursuing joint marketing and
commercialization programs for the SCS low soot technology with committed
industrial partners.
Other SCS designs are being used to convert gasoline engines of various sizes to
operate on safer, diesel-type "heavy fuels" for use in military and commercial
applications requiring light weight and safe handling and storage of fuel.
Examples include UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and ATVs (all-terrain vehicles)
such as those used by U.S. defense forces in Afghanistan, as well as outboard
engines, small watercraft used as targets, and generator sets.
CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
"Forward-looking" statements contained in this announcement, as well as all
publicly disseminated material about the Company, are made pursuant to the "safe
harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Act. Such statements are
based on current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions by
management with respect to matters such as commercial acceptance of the SCS
technology, the impact of competition, and the Company's financial condition or
results of operations. Readers are cautioned that such statements are not
guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any such
forward-looking statements. Additional information regarding the risks faced by
Sonex is provided in the Company's periodic filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the heading "Risk Factors". Such filings are available
upon request from the Company or online in the EDGAR database at www.sec.gov.
###
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
April 17, 2003
SONEX RESEARCH, INC.
Registrant
/s/ George E. Ponticas
----------------------
George E. Ponticas
Chief Financial Officer