Product category:
Batteries, chargers and circuit protection
News Release from: Saft Batteries
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 27 November 2006
Industrial battery plant expands after
100 years
Saft has celebrated the 100th anniversary of its nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) battery plant in Oskarshamn, in the south of Sweden, with the official opening of a new high-technology production line.
Saft has celebrated the 100th anniversary of its nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) battery plant in Oskarshamn, in the south of Sweden, with the official opening of a new high-technology production line The new facility dedicated to the construction of batteries featuring Saft's world-leading pocket plate construction technology, represents a major step in a Eur 9 million three-year investment plan to help Saft drive forward on its leading position as a global supplier of rechargeable industrial batteries
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 22 Mar 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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The investment has focused on providing increased production capacity and greater flexibility through the use of leading-edge manufacturing technology.
This now enables Saft to address a wider range of new market opportunities, as well as offering an even faster response to meet the needs of customers who require volume deliveries within short project lead-times.
The investment has also helped to increase the plant's recycling capability and to reduce its environmental footprint by reducing its water and energy consumption.
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The original factory was established in 1906 as the New Jungner Ackumulator Co to manufacture batteries based on the designs of Dr Waldemar Jungner, who pioneered the development of practical nickel-cadmium cells.
These batteries were given the trade name Nife, as the first designs featured iron in their construction (Ni-Fe), and 100 years later Nife remains in use as an important Saft brand name.
Saft's current Oskarshamn factory is a major manufacturing plant within the international Saft Group, and is a world-leading manufacturer of industrial Ni-Cd batteries with an annual turnover of some Eur 83 million and a workforce of around 450.
In the past three years the plant has experienced a 50% growth in demand for its products, due especially to increased sales to the oil and gas industries combined with a flexible approach to sales, customer service and production.
Batteries from Oskarshamn are found in a wide variety of applications worldwide that demand a reliable source of backup power, such as hospitals, airports, utility companies and process industries.
The Alaska BESS (battery energy storage system), capable of delivering up to 46MW of backup power for the Golden Valley Electrical Association and recognised by Guinness World Records as "the world's most powerful battery", comprises nearly 14,000 Ni-Cd cells manufactured at Oskarshamn.
Saft places a key emphasis on environmental responsibility throughout the battery lifecycle from manufacture to end of life.
In addition to the manufacturing facilities, Oskarshamn provides a complete recycling facility for spent nickel-cadmium batteries, and part of the new investment has focused on increasing recycling volumes. Request free introductory details about products from Saft Batteries ...
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