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Gold Peak

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For other uses, see Gold Peak (disambiguation).
NiMH AAA Batteries GP

Overview

Gold Peak Group is an Asian multinational group which owns high-quality industrial investments via GP Industries Limited, its major industrial investment vehicle.

The parent company, Gold Peak Industries (Holdings) Limited, was established in 1964 and has been listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong since 1984. Currently, Gold Peak holds an approximately 81.1% interest in GP Industries while GP Industries holds an approximately 49.7% interest in GP Batteries International Limited. GP Industries and GP Batteries are publicly listed in Singapore.

Gold Peak Group has built renowned brand names for its major product categories, such as GP batteries, KEF premium consumer speakers and CELESTION professional speaker drives. The Group has manufacturing, research and development, marketing and distribution operations in more than ten countries around the world[1].

Corporate history

Gold Peak Industries (Holdings) Limited (GP)

In 2000, Gold Peak acquired Lighthouse Technologies,[2] a Hong Kong-based LED technology developer and manufacturer specialising in large-scale LED screens for indoor and outdoor use.

The European branch is based in Asten, The Netherlands and there are several smaller branches in the USA. GP Batteries International Limited (Singapore) II-53, GP BATTERY MARKETING (SINGAPORE) PTE. LIMITED and GPI INTERNATIONAL LIMITED. ASEAN are its Singaporean export branches. GPI INTERNATIONAL LIMITED. ASEAN exports to the ASEAN member nations, whilst GP Batteries International Limited (Singapore) II-53 covers all other North American and Asian exports outside of China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau. GP BATTERY MARKETING (SINGAPORE) PTE. LIMITED is the marketing, sale management and publicity related division of the firm.[3][4][5] Gold Peak Industries (Taiwan), Ltd. develops Li-on batteries and battery re-chargers.[6][7]

The Hitaka Electron Co ltd was its main competitor in the Lithium button cell market in the Guangdong province of China.

GP's main product ranges

Products include GP Batteries (both primary, secondary and button cells[8]), GP PowerBank, and ReCyko, a low self discharge nickel metal hydride battery [9][10] that, unlike ordinary NiMH batteries, is claimed to hold about 90% of their charge after six months and about 85% after a year. They are planning to make a major move in to the North American rechargeable low self discharge nickel metal hydride battery market some time before 2015,[11] though plans for this were first floated as early as 2001 and minor North American operations have occurred since. They also produce Nickel-Cadmium, Nickel Metal Hydride, Lithium Ion and Lithium Ion Polymer batteries for other markets in Asia, the Middle East and Europe to.[12][13]

GP Batteries are used in Vectrix electric scooters, domestic applances, motorised toys and game consoles.

It also makes portable solar chargers.

Loudspeakers KEF.

Lighthouse Technologies

The former firm Lighthouse Technologies was a leading LED technology developer, manufacturer and global supplier of state-of-the-art LED modular video panels, which can be assembled into large scale video screens for indoor and outdoor use. Specializing in the research and manufacture of LED screens, Lighthouse Technologies has its own intellectual properties with more than 10 active patents worldwide.

Hong Kong still is the focal point for Lighthouse Technologies after it was bought out by Gold Peak as its head office, with R&D and manufacturing facilities located in both Hong Kong and Southern China. The firm has accrued has a multinational skills based team, incorporating both sales and technical talents from Europe, USA, Latin America, and the Asia Pacific region, from very diverse cultural and technological backgrounds resulting in a global company that is still sensitive to local market demands and culture.

Lighthouse Technologies' main products

  • LED Panels (Rental)
  • LED Panels (Signage)
  • LED display control equipment
  • LEDs, and related lighting units and illumination equipment

Controversy

Cadmium poisoning case

Workers at GP factories have been routinely exposed to Cadmium dust,[14][15] an extremely toxic chemical used in the manufacture of batteries. Cadmium poisoning can cause kidney failure, lung cancer and bone disease due to the repercussions of the chemical being inhaled.

Workers sue GP

In 2006 more than 100 female factory workers in southern China attempted to sue their former employers (GP) over suspected cadmium poisoning.[16] Three people have reportedly died as a result of the cadmium poisoning, and others have fallen ill.[17]

Protesting workers beaten up

August 24, 2010, over a hundred workers protested outside GP’s factory in Huizhou. On the same day, at around 11:30 pm, several workers' representatives were surrounded and beaten up by about 300 attackers whose identities were unknown. GP had promised compensation to workers affected by poisoning but severely reduced the negotiated amount offering a "take it or leave it" situation. When this proposition was rejected by the protesters they were set upon by the mob.[18]

Documentary

Karin Mak’s documentary Red Dust follows female workers fighting for medical care from their former employer, China’s GP Batteries factory, after suffering years of cadmium poisoning.[19][20]

See also

References

  1. ^ [1] http://www.goldpeak.com
  2. ^ GP Technologies Acquires 51% Interest in Lighthouse Technologies, a Major Supplier of Indoor & Outdoor LED Video Displays | Business Wire | Find Articles at BNET.com
  3. ^ http://www.gpbatteries.com/html/pdf/General.PDF
  4. ^ unions.org/pdf/ohsewpQ_9g.EN.PDF
  5. ^ http://www.live-pr.com/en/global-consumer-batteries-industry-r1048530784.htm
  6. ^ http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:Dsuu-y3LM4wJ:www.gpbatteries.com/html/pdf/Li-ion_handbook.pdf+gold+peak+industries&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShh709tLMDtQkHZhfl2YMQTwFAunV1Cdl24VrxjrQJ4bhURwR60I4buP9NchtWwuqHq5AJKVsQ7pvst9y3mp27XKRs8k1diXTKlRO9wqh9Eo_QAjcqKDPufggMlvTLYhbAItTtB&sig=AHIEtbRXoHGN-cncxbJOYZWxX4Vg93sE0A
  7. ^ http://www.gpbatteries.com/html/pdf/Li-ion_handbook.pdf
  8. ^ http://www.picstop.co.uk/ag13-button-cell-battery-1/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=base&utm_campaign=products
  9. ^ http://www.goldpeak.com/eng_annual_pdf/notes%20p53.pdf
  10. ^ www.gpbatteries.com/html/pdf/General.PDF
  11. ^ http://researchandmarkets.com/reports/344055/rechargeable_batteries_global_strategic.htm
  12. ^ http://www.goldpeak.com/eng_annual_pdf/notes%20p53.pdf
  13. ^ www.gpbatteries.com/html/pdf/General.PDF
  14. ^ http://www.globalmon.org.hk/en/category/01news/021gp-battries-cadmium/
  15. ^ http://www.csr-asia.com/index.php?id=8525
  16. ^ http://www.csr-asia.com/index.php?id=8561
  17. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6178817.stm
  18. ^ http://worldlabour.org/eng/node/398
  19. ^ http://www.hyphenmagazine.com/magazine/issue-23-bittersweet/dvd-review-red-dust
  20. ^ http://nextframe.org/festival-guide/2011-festival/documentary-program/red-dust/
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