Protonex Technology Corp., a Southboro-based fuel cell manufacturer, said it was awarded a second contract by the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences.
The company contracts largely with the government and the military.
The new, $400,000 contract with the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based center allows Protonex to improve the manufacture of its fuel cells and components.
The contract is part of a drive to commercialize Protonex products.
During the first contract between the center and Protonex, the company reduced the number of parts used to make certain types of fuel cells, cut the time it took to make them, and cut the overall cost of making the fuel cells.
The second contract is expected to fund similar improvements to Protonex’s complete fuel cell systems.
Also, Protonex appointed Robert V. Barry, vice president of product engineering, to sharpen the company’s focus on the development of products for the mass market.
