RNS Reach - non regulatory announcement 

Solid State plc

("Solid State", the "Group" or the "Company")

Solid State buzzing on innovative

pollination challenge

Solid State plc (AIM: SOLI), the specialist value added component supplier and design-in manufacturer of computing, power, and communications products, announces a contract won by its Components division for the supply of hardware to be used in Bee Hive monitoring to a US based client to improve bee health and crop pollination with a project value of approximately £2.4m.

The client, a USA-based precision pollination service, uses cutting-edge technology that ensures the pollination process lives up to farm standard quality every season. By monitoring hives, it produces stronger, healthier and more productive colonies, while lowering operational costs.

Sensors (which took three years to perfect) are placed in the middle of the hive, a range of data across various parameters is collected, and cutting-edge communications hardware sends this data to the cloud. In this way, the client can detect concerning changes in hive behaviour which may indicate ill health or stress, or a change in hive conditions which threatens the bees' wellbeing. The beekeepers are alerted and can rapidly address the issues, helping to reduce the mortality rate.

The client has the capacity to rapidly scale up. Its aim is to go from its current 48,000 hives, the equivalent of 1.5 billion bees, to 300,000 hives during the next eight months. The smart hives have proven to be extremely successful, increasing yields for 70% of major crops by an average of up to 30%.

CEO and Co-Founder of the client said:

"The radio modules successfully supplied by Solid State Supplies have made a significant impact to our business. Without them, the lack of crop pollination could have put the business back 12 months, while missing a season would have meant the loss of crucial data, hindering our ambition of going from fourth largest pollinator in the U.S. to the largest."

Matt Cook, Product Marketing Manager at Solid State Supplies, added:

"It was an unprecedented situation.  We knew that it would be a challenge to not just source the modules, but also deliver them in time; however, we were adamant that it was possible, and we proved that we could do what our rivals couldn't.

"It has been a priority at Solid State to develop close, robust supplier relationships, to ensure we can source sufficient product for our customers."

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Notes to Editors:

Solid State plc (SOLI) is a value added electronics group supplying commercial, industrial and military markets with durable components, assemblies and manufactured units for use in specialist and harsh environments.  The Group's mantra is - 'Trusted technology for demanding applications'.  To see an introductory video on the Group - https://bit.ly/3kzddx7 

Operating through two main divisions: Systems (Steatite & Active Silicon) and Components (Solid State Supplies, Pacer, Willow Technologies & AEC); the Group specialises in complex engineering challenges often requiring design-in support and component sourcing for computing, power, communications, electronic, electro-mechanical and opto-electronic products.

Headquartered in Redditch, UK, Solid State employs approximately 300 staff across UK and US, serving specialist markets in industrial, defence and security, transportation, medical and energy. 

Solid State was established in 1971 and admitted to AIM in June 1996.  The Group has grown organically and by acquisition - having made 12 acquisitions since 2002.