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Batteries resist sub-zero conditions

An EnerSys product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Oct 31, 2007

The batteries can be switched quickly and efficiency with minimum truck downtime.

When Chiltern Cold Storage Group built a new warehouse and expanded its lift truck fleet in 2006, it specified Hawker Perfect Plus batteries from EnerSys because they offered the best performance in arduous sub-zero conditions.

The batteries are being used on the company's two new reach trucks and five new powered pallet transporter,s working in a double-deep cold store built to serve Chiltern's food logistics customers.

"We wanted to equip the new cold store with the latest equipment", says Paul Jackson, founder and Managing Director of Chiltern Cold Storage Group.

"These new batteries are excellent".

"They are more powerful and have higher capacities than the ones used on our older trucks, but the chargers are smaller".

Enersys also designed and installed the charge and change facility for simple roll-out, roll-in so that batteries can be switched quickly and efficiency with minimum truck downtime.

Two batteries were supplied for each truck so that one can be charged while the other is in use on the truck.

The batteries are charged by Hawker Powertech high-frequency (HF) chargers which offer energy efficiency up to 20% higher than traditional 50Hz chargers.

Powertech automatically detects the battery's level of discharge and will supply only the amount of power needed to restore full charge.

As a consequence, less mains power is required to charge a battery, leading to significant savings in electricity costs.

The batteries were supplied with Hawker's Aquamatic water refill system, which makes it possible to top up all the cells from one central point through an integrated system.

The system's vent plugs automatically ensure the optimum filling level and allow the measurement of electrolyte specific gravity.

This simplifies routine maintenance and helps to keep batteries optimised for the best possible performance at all times.

"Batteries can be a big problem in a cold store because low temperature can reduce their performance", says Paul Jackson.

"But we've really noticed the difference they are making to the overall performance of our new trucks".

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