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OEM and Tier 1 to use Tau’s carbon-conscious high-performance wire in electric motor development Turin/Berlin, 22 July 2021 – Coinciding with the milestone of delivering prototype winding wire to the automotive industry, Tau concluded its financing round with additional funding from Finindus, a Belgium-based investment company financed by ArcelorMittal and the Flemish Region, and a top-up by German specialty chemicals company ALTANA. Tau develops high-performance wire that combines minimized partial discharge, high filling factors, greater temperature resistance, high-voltage and frequency optimization. This enables global producers of electric motors, cars, buses, trucks and aircraft to double the power output of future traction motors while keeping their size. “Years of research have allowed us to be developing coated metal wires and sustainable manufacturing technologies with a radically reduced environmental footprint. Our fast-growing team of electrical, chemical, quality and mechanical engineers relentlessly optimizes our processes with exciting new polymers and data analytics from production to achieve our goal to set the new global standard for wire coating”, says Piero Degasperi, Tau’s CTO and co-founder. Tau’s DryCycle® solvent-free process eliminates emissions of harmful volatile organic compounds and greenhouse gases, and minimizes the use of resources, energy consumption and waste. LILIT® controls the insulation quality of winding wire and electrical steel. “Enabling transformational change essential to decarbonize energy requires a sustainable mindset for all our stakeholders: employees and their families, customers, suppliers, investors and nature. For Tau this means creating solutions for the electrification of transport and industry as well as embracing environmental responsibility, ethical leadership, personal growth and continuous learning”, explains Daniel Rutz, CDO of Tau. Finindus joins the existing investor group including ALTANA, the leading sovereign wealth funds of the Middle East and other individual and financial investors. “Tau’s dry coating technology offers the ability to apply coating systems of diverse chemistries in an environmentally friendly way on metal wires with advanced geometries. This has the potential to unlock significant performance for electric motors especially in e-mobility applications”, confirms Hans Maenhout, Investment Director at Finindus. About Tau Tau is a technology and sustainable manufacturing company at the core of the electrification of transport and decarbonization of energy. Its research, development, incubation and patented technologies pair environmental responsibility with superior performance and peace-of-mind operating simplicity. Tau focuses on carbon-conscious protective coatings for high-performance and standard copper, aluminium and steel wires. Tau has offices in Turin (Italy) & Berlin (Germany). Visit www.tau.group or follow Tau on Twitter and LinkedIn. About Finindus Finindus is a Belgium based investment company funded by ArcelorMittal and the Flemish Region and is linked to OCAS, a world class metal research centre with campuses in Zelzate and Zwijnaarde (Belgium). Finindus provides early stage and growth financing to innovative technology companies active in the field of materials (including material processing), sustainable manufacturing and industry 4.0. Finindus invests across Europe, with Flanders as a home base and sweet spot, and across the globe for investment opportunities in technologies at the centre of our core domains and in line with the strategic interests and areas of expertise of our shareholders. www.finindus.be

On February 22-24, Tau took part in the 9th Advanced E-Motor Technology Conference in Berlin to discuss the emerging electric motor technologies and the global trends in e-mobility industry. The market for electric vehicles continues to grow. What’s missing are the next generation technologies to advance electric driving. One of the most awaited topics of the conference covered some of the relevant strategies for future electrical motors and possible innovations through higher operating voltage in powertrains, improved resistance and power efficiency. It was said that shifting towards 800-1600 Volt motors could be the breakthrough that would finally allow electric vehicles to be charged faster and go further on one charge. Expectations are also changing in terms of the physical aspects of electric motors and their components. There is now greater importance placed on reduced weight and design optimization including insulations and use of alternative materials. “I was very happy to be a part of a network that is changing mobility and glad to ascertain the strong positioning of Tau’s customer value proposition. In the end I would like to thank IQPC for the flawless organization and the opportunity to finally meet peers in person after two years of pandemic limitations”, says Filippo Veglia, co-founder and CSO of Tau. In addition, Tau’s high-performance magnet wire for transport electrification has attracted great interest from different players including OEMs, Tier1 and Tier2 companies during the networking sessions. The dielectric performances way above any competing wire and the highest thermal class in the market make Tau’s wire the perfect fit for e-mobility. This, in fact, helps reducing the size of motors along with optimizing their efficiency. Smaller and lighter motors will allow to have additional space for batteries. Mr. Veglia said that Tau will continue the discussion on potential cooperation and supply of its magnet wire to become the de facto standard in winding industry. About Tau Tau is a technology and sustainable manufacturing company at the core of the electrification of transport and decarbonization of energy. Its research, development and incubation have resulted in patented technologies that pair environmental responsibility with superior performance and peace-of-mind operating simplicity. Tau focuses on carbon-conscious protective coatings for high-performance and standard copper, aluminium and steel wires. Tau has offices in Turin (Italy) & Berlin (Germany). Visit www.tau.group or follow Tau on Twitter and LinkedIn. About Automotive IQ Automotive IQ is a web-based global community of industry professionals, automotive experts and senior decision makers. Our exclusive insights, news and trend spotting is shared to our members through presentations, articles, webinars, reports and more, enabling solution providers to demonstrate year-round thought leadership in specific automotive areas in a cost- and time-effective way. For more information visit www.automotive-iq.com/

On September 22-23, Tau featured its high-performance magnet wire for e-mobility at Coiltech 2021 in Pordenone, preparing to build electric motors that are twice more powerful than current models. Disruptions towards sustainable manufacturing are impacting the automotive industry. The demands of e-mobility have triggered a rethink of electric motor designs and technologies. Largely unchanged for decades owing to the limits in conductor performance, electric motors have now moved into the focus of engineers who work to develop the next generation of electric motors. On top of their wish list: winding wire with unparalleled performance that has the potential to unlock massive performance for electric motors especially for transport electrification. After several years of research, Tau has unveiled the next generation magnet wire with such superior performance. Last week Tau premiered its DryCycle®️ magnet wire for e-mobility and grid applications at the Coiltech Italia 2021 fair in Pordenone. In a continued effort to move forward electric machine technology, Tau wire was designed to make motors twice as powerful, reducing its size and weight and allowing significant increases of operating voltage, frequencies and temperatures. It features partial discharge resistance that is up to 5 times higher compared to standard magnet wire and superior to wire currently used for motors in electric vehicles. “The e-car of the future will be faster, more comfortable, cheaper and with a longer range than petrol ones. To do so every electric component need to step-up. We are proposing a dramatically better magnet wire and are ready for this step”, says Filippo Veglia, co-founder and CSO of Tau. Although electric transport is a step towards sustainability, the underlying manufacturing processes have still an impact on climate and thus represent another challenge. To make it greener, Tau was guided by resource efficiency and low-carbon principles when creating its DryCycle coating process. Its strict use of solvent-free polymers eliminates the emission of harmful VOC, while a simplified production minimizes the use of resources and reduces energy consumption and waste. Tau underscored its seriousness about electrification - among the priorities of the company is the further development of grid wire for renewable energy generation. But ultimately, Veglia said, the company also wants to elevate every day of domestic life in a smaller, but not less exciting application – wire for smart home appliances. To see the very latest technologies designed for the winding industry, visit Coiltech Deutschland 2022 in Ulm on April 6-7, where Tau will be exhibiting at Booth 6-D36. About Tau Tau is a technology and sustainable manufacturing company at the core of the electrification of transport and decarbonization of energy. Its research, development and incubation have resulted in patented technologies that pair environmental responsibility with superior performance and peace-of-mind operating simplicity. Tau focuses on carbon-conscious protective coatings for high-performance and standard copper, aluminium and steel wires. Tau has offices in Turin (Italy) & Berlin (Germany). Visit www.tau.group or follow Tau on Twitter and LinkedIn. About Coiltech Coiltech Italia is an annual international exhibition for the coil and winding industry that gives an excellent opportunity to keep up with the materials and methods innovation for further improvement of efficiency in production, distribution, transformation, and consumption of electrical energy. For more information visit https://www.quickfairs.net.

The homogeneity of the Backlack coating plays an extremely important role in the production process of companies that punch electrical steel strip as it effects the adhesive strength and emission values of the Backlack. Up until now, monitoring compliance with the relevant customer specifications involved a complex testing process. Reliably testing the entire length of the core of a coil was nearly impossible due to the fact that taking samples destroys the material. As a development partner, Waelzholz has now integrated the innovative LILIT© system – as a contactless, complete inspection – in ongoing operations. Hagen, May 28, 2020 - Backlack offers clear advantages when used to bond electrical steel strip lamination stacks, especially for electric motors used in electric vehicles, because it offers both outstanding performance and high comfort. Daniel Dunker, electrical steel strip specialist in materials technology at Waelzholz in Hagen, explains: “Backlack really shines in applications where the motor manufacturer’s specifications need to be met exactly.” This involves questions surrounding the ability to process the electrical steel strip with a Backlack layer both during the punching process as well as subsequent baking. For example, Backlack’s adhesive strength and emission values are relevant in this regard. According to Dunker: “The manufacturers want the Backlack layer to be highly uniform over the entire length of the core of a coil and across batches. After all, this is the basic requirement for achieving consistency in further processing steps.” Reliable Testing Without Sampling The term polymerization describes how long the molecular chains in the Backlack coating are. It is a key factor that has an effect on Backlack’s adhesive strength and emission values as mentioned above. When used to coat electrical steel strip, however, Backlack’s degree of polymerization during the hardening process may vary due to local variations in drying. The conventional analysis of random material samples is not enough to make a comprehensive statement about the degree of polymerization over the entire length of the core of a coil. According to Dunker: “This is why we were looking for a way to reliably test the entire length of the core.” The company has now achieved this with the innovative LILIT© system, which the developer TAU Industrial Robotics has adapted to Backlack testing together with Waelzholz. The main advantage of this testing method is that it can be used during ongoing production without the need to take samples. The LILIT© testing system operates based on the principle of UV spectroscopy, in which a light source emits UV light that is reflected or partially absorbed by the Backlack. The reflected light spectrum is then measured, and the degree of polymerization is determined based on this information. According to Dunker: “Using the ‘light in-line insulation test,’ we are able to very accurately determine the uniformity of the hardening process. To achieve this, we previously determined the correlation of the reflected light spectrum to the material properties in a series of tests, and we can now use this knowledge to make very accurate statements about the properties of the Backlack’s layer.” This allows Waelzholz to ensure that the electrical steel strip’s Backlack coating has an optimum degree of polymerization with consistent homogeneity – over long periods of time and numerous batches. Dunker concludes: “We make sure that our customers can fully leverage Backlack’s potential for their products. This applies both to the performance and comfort of the future electric motor and to the cost-effectiveness of the manufacturing processes. We strive to achieve total reliability here, which we implement to the benefit of our customers through the maximum level of quality characteristic of a complete inspection.” This article has been written by Waelzholz. To view the original text, visit: https://blog.waelzholz.com/en/products-applications/spotlight-on-backlack/ About Waelzholz The family-owned company Waelzholz, founded in 1829 and headquartered in Hagen, Germany, employs 2,400 people worldwide. At production sites in Europe, North and South America, and Asia, the technology leader manufactures approximately 780,000 tons of high-quality cold rolled steel strip and profiles annually. With a wide range of steel materials, Waelzholz offers innovative solutions for customers from the automotive industry, the energy sector, and the industrial goods sector, such as thin electrical steel strip for environmentally friendly electric drive systems or high-strength spring steel for seat belt systems. The technology leader advises its customers individually and manufactures steel materials with precisely tailored performance characteristics. For more information, visit www.waelzholz.com.

Tau paves the way for transport electrification at Coiltech Italia 2022, the international coil winding exhibition, held in Pordenone on September 28-29. Electric car manufacturers are racing to launch more advanced models at a rapid rate. Most importantly, industry experts are mastering innovative winding technologies for high voltage motors featuring high-power density. This helps to improve the electric vehicles’ efficiency, range and reduce recharge time. After successfully passing laboratory testing, Tau has now unveiled a new hairpin stator prototype for automotive e-traction developed in partnership with Additive Drives, a manufacturer of state-of-the-art e-motor components for mobility, automotive, industrial and racing sectors. One of the highlights of Tau winding wire is that it has all the characteristics that future mobility requires. Its partial discharge resistance and voltage resistance are 60% higher than that of competing products. In comparison to modern conductor solutions, the Tau wire delivers a higher power output and is suitable for applications above 800 volts. “We are proud to be partnering with Additive Drives to deliver our shared vision of the next level electric motor technology. At the current stage of pre-production development, we have a rare opportunity to shape decisions on product design and material sourcing based on our product performance. This milestone is of the utmost importance for Tau, now and in the future, as we want our magnet wire to play a key role in the energy transition”, said Filippo Veglia, co-founder and CSO of Tau. Tau’s magnet wire characteristics - electrical, mechanical and chemical - have been tested by FAPS and PEM Institutes in laboratory settings. Having successfully passed all tests, Tau further partnered with Additive Drives and built the first stator with Tau wire. This confirmed that Tau wire can be processed and allows for a smaller bending radius of the wire in the stator, lower friction, and a higher electrical fill factor. By rethinking traditional coating methods, Tau is leveraging the benefits that “from scratch” approach gives to put in place more sustainable practices. The DryCycle® solvent-free coating process significantly reduces any negative impact on the environment owing to the use of solid-state dry varnishes preventing VOC emissions. "We use only the materials we need and no more. Our one-layer insulation has already demonstrated very good mechanical robustness and superior dielectric strength, so we don't need to apply more polymer to obtain better results, which reduces not only the manufacturing cost but also carbon footprint. And we want to do much more than that. Our DryCycle coating is the only technology that allows 100% copper and thermoplastic polymer recycling - thus making our high-performance wire more environmentally friendly," added Veglia. The company will continue its partnership with Additive Drives to deliver an end-to-end e-motor solution that weighs less, consumes less energy and resources, and achieves the absolute maximum power density and range, Veglia said. To see the very latest technologies designed for the winding industry, visit Coiltech Deutschland 2023 in Ulm on March 29-30, where Tau will be exhibiting at Booth 7-D09. About Tau Tau is a technology company at the core of the electrification of transport and the decarbonization of energy. Its patented technologies reconcile the necessity of sustainable manufacturing with the power, reliability and performance that electrification requires to enable smaller, greener and more powerful motors, transformers and generators. Tau focuses on carbon-conscious protective coatings for high-performance and standard copper, aluminium and steel wires. Visit www.tau.group or follow Tau on Twitter and LinkedIn. About Coiltech Coiltech Italia is an annual international exhibition for the coil and winding industry that gives an excellent opportunity to keep up with the materials and methods innovation for further improvement of efficiency in production, distribution, transformation, and consumption of electrical energy. For more information visit https://www.quickfairs.net.

On April 06-07, Tau took part in the Coiltech Deutschland 2022 in Ulm, the fair dedicated to the supply chain of coil winding, electric motors, generators and transformers industry. For this occasion, the company showcased its unparalleled high-performance magnet wire coated with fluoropolymer to enable future electric motor architecture. Today’s battery-powered electric cars are significantly heavier than combustion vehicles and thus have high energy consumption. This represents the biggest challenge for transport electrification. OEMs and Tier1 companies strive to improve performance and efficiency of their upcoming models. The move towards 800V technology ensures faster charging and wider range. However, higher voltages stress primary insulation even more and cause partial discharge leading to the motor failure. Modern design concepts use rectangular wires in hairpin or wave windings with a thicker insulating layer. Filippo Veglia, Tau’s co-founder and CSO, speaker at the fair’s World Magnetic Conference, pointed out that with increased insulation thickness, made to withstand higher voltage, the slot fill factor has to be reduced. This lowers power density and efficiency of the motor. Since voltage and fill factor are two competing parameters, motor designers must find an optimal equilibrium which depends on the primary insulation resistance to partial discharge. “The use of special polymers like PEEK and PI, both already highly resistant to partial discharge, allows to increase the voltage without jeopardizing the fill factor of the motor. Nevertheless, fluoropolymers such as PTFE and PFA have the lowest relative permittivity among the insulating polymers and demonstrate superior partial discharge performance compared to commonly used polymers. And this advantage becomes even more evident at the usual operating temperatures of electric powertrains. A wire coated with a fluoropolymer is calculated to work with three times the voltage of the equivalent wire enameled with PAI and almost two times the equivalent wire coated with PEEK”, says Veglia. This represents a game-changing advantage for systems of 800V and more. However, fluoropolymers are rather soft materials and have relatively poor resistance to abrasion and minor clamping force. They show low adhesion and are difficult to extrude. Therefore, traditional technology of wire enameling and wire extrusion was unable to work with fluoropolymers. Tau answered these requirements with its self-developed, proprietary DryCycle technology, which guarantees operational peace of mind when coating with PFA, PTFE, ETFE and other fluoropolymers, with no solvents or primers. Based on the recent report by PEM Motion, Tau’s PFA coated wire has a much lower level of partial discharge – 75% less than PAI-coated and 30-40% less than PEEK-coated wire. Tau will again be displaying its high-performance wire for e-mobility and grid applications at Coiltech Italia 2022 in Pordenone on September 28-29, at Booth 7-A31. Save the date! About Tau Tau is a technology and sustainable manufacturing company at the core of the electrification of transport and decarbonization of energy. Its research, development and incubation have resulted in patented technologies that pair environmental responsibility with superior performance and peace-of-mind operating simplicity. Tau focuses on carbon-conscious protective coatings for high-performance and standard copper, aluminium and steel wires. Tau has offices in Turin (Italy) & Berlin (Germany). Visit www.tau.group or follow Tau on Twitter and LinkedIn. About Coiltech Coiltech Italia is an annual international exhibition for the coil and winding industry that gives an excellent opportunity to keep up with the materials and methods innovation for further improvement of efficiency in production, distribution, transformation, and consumption of electrical energy. For more information visit www.quickfairs.net.