{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"47998","rtpr_id":"nPn72sGcya","ticker":"HLP","exchange":"NASDAQ","all_tickers":["HLP"],"title":"Hongli Group Inc. Engages Battery Technology Expert Dr. Phillip A. Medina IV as Independent Technical Advisor for Energy Storage Initiatives","author":"PR Newswire","published_at":"2026-05-28T12:30:05.906Z","article_body":"Hongli Group Inc. Engages Battery Technology Expert Dr. Phillip A. Medina IV as Independent Technical Advisor for Energy Storage Initiatives\n\nPR Newswire\n\nWEIFANG, China, May 28, 2026\n\nWEIFANG, China, May 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Hongli Group Inc. (Nasdaq: HLP)\n(the \"Company\" or \"Hongli Group\"), a cold roll formed steel profile\nmanufacturer, today announced that it has engaged Dr. Phillip A. Medina IV as\nan independent technical advisor to provide consulting and advisory support in\nconnection with the Company's evaluation of opportunities in the new energy\ntechnology, advanced material and energy storage sectors.\n\nDr. Medina is a scientist who specializes in lithium-ion, lithium-metal,\nsolid-state, and next-generation rechargeable battery systems. Dr. Medina\nworked for several years as a Research Scientist at the IBM Almaden Research\nCenter. His work there focused on advanced energy storage chemistry, graphene\ncathode materials, and lithium-oxygen battery systems. At IBM, he developed\nnew battery technologies, published scientific papers, and managed\nintellectual property assets to improve battery safety and energy density. He\nmanaged electrochemical analysis and materials characterization using scanning\nelectron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and nuclear magnetic\nresonance (NMR).\n\nAfter his time at IBM, Dr. Medina worked as the Chief Battery Scientist for an\nadvanced battery technology developer, where he managed international R&D\npartnerships. He ran projects focused on fast-charging systems, solid-state\nbattery structures, and high-energy-density technologies for electric mobility\nand energy storage. Dr. Medina wrote 13 peer-reviewed scientific papers and\nholds multiple U.S. patents and patent applications related to solid-state\nelectrolytes, interhalogen cathodes, and graphene materials. He holds a Ph.D.\nin Materials Science and completed data science training at the University of\nCalifornia, Berkeley. His academic honors include a National Science\nFoundation Graduate Research Fellowship and a NASA MUST Fellowship.\n\n\"We welcome Dr. Medina to Hongli Group as we evaluate opportunities in the new\nenergy sector,\" said Jie Liu, Chief Executive Officer of Hongli Group. \"We are\nmaintaining our core manufacturing business, and Dr. Medina's expertise in\nbattery systems and solid-state structures is expected to connect our\ntraditional manufacturing setup with new energy technologies. His background\nin data science and materials innovation is expected to give us a strong\nfoundation to build our research. By working with global experts like Dr.\nMedina, we are pursuing research activities intended to evaluate potential\ninnovations for our partners and stakeholders.\"\n\n\"Advanced materials science and energy storage are major technical priorities\nfor modern industry,\" said Dr. Phillip A. Medina IV. \"I spent my career\nstudying battery chemistry and data-driven research methods. I look forward to\nworking with the leadership team at Hongli Group to build our research\ncapabilities, secure new patents, and deploy high-energy-density technologies\nfor the electric mobility market.\"\n\nAbout Hongli Group, Inc.\n\nHongli Group Inc. is a Cayman Islands holding company, and through a series of\ncontractual arrangements, consolidates the financial results of Shandong\nHongli Special Section Tube Co., Ltd. and its subsidiaries (collectively,\n\"Hongli Operating Group\"). Hongli Operating Group is a cold roll formed steel\nprofile manufacturer with operating subsidiaries in China. The Hongli\nOperating Group designs, customizes and manufactures cold roll formed steel\nprofiles for machineries and equipment in a variety of sectors, including but\nnot limited to mining and excavation, construction, agriculture and\ntransportation. The Hongli Operating Group, with over 25 years of operating\nhistory, has developed customers in more than 30 major cities in China as well\nas a global network including South Korea, Japan, and U.S. Hongli Operating\nGroup currently has 11 cold roll forming production lines and produces a\nvariety of distinct profile products in a broad range of materials, sizes and\nshapes.\n\nForward-Looking Statements\n\nForward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives,\ngoals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions\nand other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. When\nthe Company uses words such as \"may,\" \"will,\" \"would,\" \"intend,\" \"should,\"\n\"believe,\" \"expect,\" \"anticipate,\" \"project,\" \"estimate,\" \"continue\" or\nsimilar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, it is\nmaking forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not\nguarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may\ncause the actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations\ndiscussed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to\nuncertainties and risks, including, but not limited to, the following: the\nCompany's ability to achieve its goals and strategies, the Company's future\nbusiness development and plans for future business development, including its\nfinancial conditions and results of operations, product and service demand and\nacceptance, reputation and brand, the impact of competition and pricing,\nchanges in technology, government regulations, import and export restrictions,\nfluctuations in general economic and business conditions, the Company's\nability to comply with Nasdaq continued listing standards and assumptions\nunderlying or related to any of the foregoing and other risks contained in\nreports filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission\n(\"SEC\"). For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place\nundue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release.\nAdditional factors are discussed in the Company's filings with the SEC, which\nare available for review at www.sec.gov (http://www.sec.gov) . The Company\nundertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements\nto reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.\n\nFor investor and media inquiries, please contact:\n\nHongli Group Inc.\nMr. Jie Liu\nEmail: zjf@hongli-profile.com (mailto:zjf@hongli-profile.com)\nMobile: +86 0536-2180886\n\nView original\ncontent:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hongli-group-inc-engages-battery-technology-expert-dr-phillip-a-medina-iv-as-independent-technical-advisor-for-energy-storage-initiatives-302783331.html\n(https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hongli-group-inc-engages-battery-technology-expert-dr-phillip-a-medina-iv-as-independent-technical-advisor-for-energy-storage-initiatives-302783331.html)\n\nSOURCE Hongli Group Inc.\n\n\n\nCopyright (c) 2026 PR Newswire Association,LLC. All Rights Reserved.","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nPn72sGcya","title":"Hongli Group Inc. Engages Battery Technology Expert Dr. Phillip A. Medina IV as Independent Technical Advisor for Energy Storage Initiatives","author":"PR Newswire","ticker":"HLP","created":"2026-05-28T12:30:05.906Z","tickers":["HLP"],"exchange":"NASDAQ","article_body":"Hongli Group Inc. Engages Battery Technology Expert Dr. Phillip A. Medina IV as Independent Technical Advisor for Energy Storage Initiatives\n\nPR Newswire\n\nWEIFANG, China, May 28, 2026\n\nWEIFANG, China, May 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Hongli Group Inc. (Nasdaq: HLP)\n(the \"Company\" or \"Hongli Group\"), a cold roll formed steel profile\nmanufacturer, today announced that it has engaged Dr. Phillip A. Medina IV as\nan independent technical advisor to provide consulting and advisory support in\nconnection with the Company's evaluation of opportunities in the new energy\ntechnology, advanced material and energy storage sectors.\n\nDr. Medina is a scientist who specializes in lithium-ion, lithium-metal,\nsolid-state, and next-generation rechargeable battery systems. Dr. Medina\nworked for several years as a Research Scientist at the IBM Almaden Research\nCenter. His work there focused on advanced energy storage chemistry, graphene\ncathode materials, and lithium-oxygen battery systems. At IBM, he developed\nnew battery technologies, published scientific papers, and managed\nintellectual property assets to improve battery safety and energy density. He\nmanaged electrochemical analysis and materials characterization using scanning\nelectron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and nuclear magnetic\nresonance (NMR).\n\nAfter his time at IBM, Dr. Medina worked as the Chief Battery Scientist for an\nadvanced battery technology developer, where he managed international R&D\npartnerships. He ran projects focused on fast-charging systems, solid-state\nbattery structures, and high-energy-density technologies for electric mobility\nand energy storage. Dr. Medina wrote 13 peer-reviewed scientific papers and\nholds multiple U.S. patents and patent applications related to solid-state\nelectrolytes, interhalogen cathodes, and graphene materials. He holds a Ph.D.\nin Materials Science and completed data science training at the University of\nCalifornia, Berkeley. His academic honors include a National Science\nFoundation Graduate Research Fellowship and a NASA MUST Fellowship.\n\n\"We welcome Dr. Medina to Hongli Group as we evaluate opportunities in the new\nenergy sector,\" said Jie Liu, Chief Executive Officer of Hongli Group. \"We are\nmaintaining our core manufacturing business, and Dr. Medina's expertise in\nbattery systems and solid-state structures is expected to connect our\ntraditional manufacturing setup with new energy technologies. His background\nin data science and materials innovation is expected to give us a strong\nfoundation to build our research. By working with global experts like Dr.\nMedina, we are pursuing research activities intended to evaluate potential\ninnovations for our partners and stakeholders.\"\n\n\"Advanced materials science and energy storage are major technical priorities\nfor modern industry,\" said Dr. Phillip A. Medina IV. \"I spent my career\nstudying battery chemistry and data-driven research methods. I look forward to\nworking with the leadership team at Hongli Group to build our research\ncapabilities, secure new patents, and deploy high-energy-density technologies\nfor the electric mobility market.\"\n\nAbout Hongli Group, Inc.\n\nHongli Group Inc. is a Cayman Islands holding company, and through a series of\ncontractual arrangements, consolidates the financial results of Shandong\nHongli Special Section Tube Co., Ltd. and its subsidiaries (collectively,\n\"Hongli Operating Group\"). Hongli Operating Group is a cold roll formed steel\nprofile manufacturer with operating subsidiaries in China. The Hongli\nOperating Group designs, customizes and manufactures cold roll formed steel\nprofiles for machineries and equipment in a variety of sectors, including but\nnot limited to mining and excavation, construction, agriculture and\ntransportation. The Hongli Operating Group, with over 25 years of operating\nhistory, has developed customers in more than 30 major cities in China as well\nas a global network including South Korea, Japan, and U.S. Hongli Operating\nGroup currently has 11 cold roll forming production lines and produces a\nvariety of distinct profile products in a broad range of materials, sizes and\nshapes.\n\nForward-Looking Statements\n\nForward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives,\ngoals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions\nand other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. When\nthe Company uses words such as \"may,\" \"will,\" \"would,\" \"intend,\" \"should,\"\n\"believe,\" \"expect,\" \"anticipate,\" \"project,\" \"estimate,\" \"continue\" or\nsimilar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, it is\nmaking forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not\nguarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may\ncause the actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations\ndiscussed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to\nuncertainties and risks, including, but not limited to, the following: the\nCompany's ability to achieve its goals and strategies, the Company's future\nbusiness development and plans for future business development, including its\nfinancial conditions and results of operations, product and service demand and\nacceptance, reputation and brand, the impact of competition and pricing,\nchanges in technology, government regulations, import and export restrictions,\nfluctuations in general economic and business conditions, the Company's\nability to comply with Nasdaq continued listing standards and assumptions\nunderlying or related to any of the foregoing and other risks contained in\nreports filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission\n(\"SEC\"). For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place\nundue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release.\nAdditional factors are discussed in the Company's filings with the SEC, which\nare available for review at www.sec.gov (http://www.sec.gov) . The Company\nundertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements\nto reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.\n\nFor investor and media inquiries, please contact:\n\nHongli Group Inc.\nMr. Jie Liu\nEmail: zjf@hongli-profile.com (mailto:zjf@hongli-profile.com)\nMobile: +86 0536-2180886\n\nView original\ncontent:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hongli-group-inc-engages-battery-technology-expert-dr-phillip-a-medina-iv-as-independent-technical-advisor-for-energy-storage-initiatives-302783331.html\n(https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hongli-group-inc-engages-battery-technology-expert-dr-phillip-a-medina-iv-as-independent-technical-advisor-for-energy-storage-initiatives-302783331.html)\n\nSOURCE Hongli Group Inc.\n\n\n\nCopyright (c) 2026 PR Newswire Association,LLC. All Rights Reserved."},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-05-28T12:30:05.96008803Z","server_sent_at_ms":1779971405960},"received_at":"2026-05-28T12:30:06.031Z","source_url":"https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hongli-group-inc-engages-battery-technology-expert-dr-phillip-a-medina-iv-as-independent-technical-advisor-for-energy-storage-initiatives-302783331.html"},"analysis":{"id":"37430","press_release_id":"47998","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Metals & Mining","sector":"Materials"},"redFlags":["Strategic pivot signal: Steel manufacturer exploring unrelated battery/energy storage sector","Advisory role only: No capital commitment, partnership, or product launch announced"],"eventType":"executive_change","narrative":"Hongli Group Inc. (HLP) has engaged Dr. Phillip A. Medina IV as an independent technical advisor to support its evaluation of opportunities in new energy technology and energy storage.\n\nDr. Medina brings expertise in lithium-ion, solid-state, and next-generation battery systems, having previously served as a Research Scientist at IBM Almaden and Chief Battery Scientist for an advanced battery developer.\n\nCEO Jie Liu stated the company is maintaining its core cold roll formed steel profile manufacturing business while using Dr. Medina’s expertise to build research capabilities and evaluate potential innovations for partners.","sentiment":"neutral","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"Steel maker HLP hires battery expert for exploratory R&D; core business unchanged."},"keyFigures":{},"quotedText":"We are maintaining our core manufacturing business, and Dr. Medina's expertise in battery systems and solid-state structures is expected to connect our traditional manufacturing setup with new energy technologies.","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Dr. Phillip A. Medina IV","role":"Independent Technical Advisor"},{"name":"Jie Liu","role":"Chief Executive Officer"}],"products":[],"companies":[{"name":"Hongli Group Inc.","ticker":"HLP"},{"name":"IBM Almaden Research Center","relationship":"former employer of advisor"},{"name":"Shandong Hongli Special Section Tube Co., Ltd.","relationship":"operating subsidiary"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"materialImpact":{"score":1,"reasoning":"Appointment of an independent technical advisor for exploratory R&D in a new sector. No revenue impact, no binding partnership, and no immediate operational change to the core steel business. This is a low-signal strategic signal."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"HLP"},"globalImportance":10,"audienceRelevance":15,"eventTypeSecondary":["operations_update"],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"small-cap","eventGravity":"low","sectorWeight":"low","householdBrandBoost":0,"retailFavoriteBoost":0}},"event_type":"executive_change","event_type_secondary":["operations_update"],"sentiment":"neutral","material_impact_score":1,"narrative":"Hongli Group Inc. (HLP) has engaged Dr. Phillip A. Medina IV as an independent technical advisor to support its evaluation of opportunities in new energy technology and energy storage.\n\nDr. Medina brings expertise in lithium-ion, solid-state, and next-generation battery systems, having previously served as a Research Scientist at IBM Almaden and Chief Battery Scientist for an advanced battery developer.\n\nCEO Jie Liu stated the company is maintaining its core cold roll formed steel profile manufacturing business while using Dr. Medina’s expertise to build research capabilities and evaluate potential innovations for partners.","key_figures":{},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Dr. Phillip A. Medina IV","role":"Independent Technical Advisor"},{"name":"Jie Liu","role":"Chief Executive Officer"}],"products":[],"companies":[{"name":"Hongli Group Inc.","ticker":"HLP"},{"name":"IBM Almaden Research Center","relationship":"former employer of advisor"},{"name":"Shandong Hongli Special Section Tube Co., Ltd.","relationship":"operating subsidiary"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"model_name":"qwen3_6_27b_awq","prompt_hash":"sha256:727b4b9429a443af","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-05-28T12:42:41.727Z","global_importance":10,"audience_relevance":15,"importance_components":{"tickerTier":"small-cap","eventGravity":"low","sectorWeight":"low","householdBrandBoost":0,"retailFavoriteBoost":0}},"durationMs":44891,"modelName":"george-droid-qwen-72b"}}