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Month: August 2020

Spanish Supermarket Chain Automates Fresh Produce Distribution with Cimcorp

Posted on by David Priestman

Automated fulfilment specialist Cimcorp has received an order to automate the distribution of fresh produce for regional Spanish grocery retailer, Alimerka. Robotic systems at the company’s Lugo de Llanera distribution centre, just north of Oviedo, will serve all 173 of Alimerka’s stores across Northwest Spain, as well as another dozen or so customers of the group’s fresh produce distribution subsidiary, Codefrut.

Automation from Cimcorp will ensure availability across Alimerka’s fruit and vegetable product range, as well as security of supply to its retail stores. The company sets high standards of quality and service and demands the same from its suppliers. “We expect strict project management from Cimcorp in the implementation phase,” said Alimerka’s CEO, Alejandro Fernández González. “We’ve seen what the company has done for other grocery retailers, and that the Cimcorp team understands the challenges with fresh produce. We cannot have any delays due to disruption. Over 150,000 families a day rely on food being available in our stores.”

Family-owned Alimerka is a leading grocer in its home region of Asturias—where it has one-third of the market share—as well as in the neighbouring regions of Galicia and Castile and León. According to González, Alimerka has always taken pride in being an innovative company, committed to securing food production and therefore work opportunities in Asturias. “We have 6,000 employees and we buy from local producers and farmers. Our commitment to the area is one of the reasons why our customers are loyal to us.”

Kai Tuomisaari, Cimcorp’s Vice President, Sales, said, “When dealing with food, and especially with perishable products, accuracy and reliability are essential. Everything has to be done quickly, as these products do not store well. The less time they spend in the distribution centre, the sooner they are in stores and available to customers.”

No less than 120 tons of fresh produce pass through the Lugo de Llanera DC every day, six days a week, being handled in plastic crates to prevent bruising and ensure excellent quality from the field to the shelf. “With this automation, we want to ensure that there are no unscheduled stoppages,” explained González. “Imagine if the automation didn’t work for one day: the stores would not receive fruit and vegetables, the produce in the logistics centre would no longer be as fresh, and there wouldn’t be space for the 120 tons coming in the next day. We have to have a reliable solution so that the hard work, time and money invested in fresh produce doesn’t go to waste. This is why we have invested in fresh food automation from Cimcorp.”

To secure a longer lifecycle for the automation and avoid any unscheduled stoppages, Alimerka is also investing in preventive maintenance and 24/7 help desk support from Cimcorp. “Automation comes with a price tag,” commented González. “But when you invest in high-quality automation, it ages well. Nevertheless, all automation has wearable parts that need to be replaced from time to time. Who better to maintain and repair the solution than the people who designed and installed it in the first place? Alimerka wants to get the most out of this investment, so we want to take care of it in order that it will last several decades.”

 

“Fewer Than 1 in 5 UK Firms Ready for No-Deal Brexit”

Posted on by David Priestman

Descartes Systems Group has today announced the findings of its Brexit Readiness research to understand the readiness of UK businesses that trade with the EU for the end of the Brexit transition period on 31st December 2020. Undertaken by SAPIO Research during July 2020, the interviews with supply chain managers assessed companies’ general expectations around the impact of Brexit; the levels of concern surrounding specific changes to the UK-EU trading arrangement; firms’ preparedness; and the steps that have already been taken to prepare for the impact of Brexit on their supply chain.

Key findings include:

  • Two thirds of businesses have had their Brexit preparations disrupted by COVID-19.
  • Less than a quarter (23%) have high confidence in their ability to cope with the extra administrative burden of Brexit.
  • Two thirds (67%) of large firms are very or extremely concerned about longer delays in their supply chain impacting the business post-Brexit.
  • Fewer than one in five (18%) of UK businesses are prepared for a ‘no deal’ Brexit.
  • Almost three quarters (72%) are concerned about the customs brokerage market’s capacity post-Brexit.
  • Two fifths (40%) are concerned about customs declarations impacting their business post-Brexit.

With just a few months until the Brexit deadline, the lack of clarity surrounding the deal still under discussion between the EU and UK is undermining business certainty. Just over half (52%) think a UK-EU trade deal is unlikely to be achieved in 2020 and only one in ten (10%) supply chain managers claim to have total certainty regarding the impact of Brexit on their business. Furthermore, despite the consensus regarding the likelihood of a ‘no deal’ Brexit, fewer than one in five (18%) are prepared for a ‘no deal’ exit from the EU. Worryingly, given the implication on UK consumers, that preparedness drops to just 3% of companies within both food & drink and healthcare/ medical sectors.

Delays to the supply chain (45%) are the biggest concern regarding the impact of Brexit on cross border trade. However, the larger the organisation, the greater the concern regarding supply chain delays: 56% of supply chain managers in firms with over 1,000 employees are worried about delays to the supply chain. The impact of such delays also raises serious concerns: two thirds (67%) of larger firms are very or extremely concerned about longer delays in their supply chain. Over two thirds (68%) of supply chain managers within healthcare are also concerned about supply chain delays. Tariff payments (40%) and customs declarations (40%) are the next highest concerns.

These findings underline a key fact: those organisations and supply chain managers with existing experience of customs declarations are far more worried about the implications of Brexit on the business than those who have yet to discover the complexity of customs processes. Significantly, with consumer behaviour having fundamentally changed during COVID-19, this inexperience is likely to catch out many smaller sole traders who have moved to an ecommerce model during the pandemic.

Pol Sweeney, VP Sales and Business Manager UK, Descartes, comments: “Membership of the EU has masked the complexities of customs for many, many businesses. Since the Single Market came into force there have been no customs formalities between the UK and EU for nearly 28 years, over which time international trade has grown and evolved significantly. The fact is that Brexit will have vast implications for any company importing or exporting out of the UK. Our research highlights the need for organisations to act now to ensure the right systems, processes and skills are in place in time.”

For the full research findings, please visit: https://www.descartes.com/lp/brexit-readiness-whitepaper

Strategic Thinking Leads to LPR’s Haulier Overhaul

Posted on by David Priestman

The current Covid-19 pandemic has provided a number of opportunities for businesses to rethink their processes and indeed has enabled some deep thinking time – a resource which can be in short supply during normal operation.

Some projects which have been in the ‘slow cooker’ for a while can be exposed to a bit more heat, leading them to come to the boil faster than they would have otherwise.

LPR UK & Ireland are one such business, taking advantage of the time afforded to really focus on its plans to open two new depots to support both customer, and its own, growth, as well as undertaking a strategic review and finalising the overhaul of its transport operating systems.

The two new depots, one in the Midlands and one in the south, represent a major investment for the business, both in terms of time and financial investment; and it went a step further, moving to a multi-provider haulier system allowing it to offer a more flexible and agile service to its customers.

The review of its transport and depot offering could not be completed without preparing for the future and it made the decision to further invest in the purchase and installation of two new heat treatment kilns into its new sites, and an additional kiln to be installed into its Irish operation.

The heat treatment kilns form part of the business’ plans to prepare for the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December, when pallets being carried across European borders will be required to meet new legislation.

This strategic planning, the subsequent changes, investments and depot openings have all been created and implemented, with contracts sealed and delivered, without any impact being seen by its customer base.

Simon Wood, Operations Director at LPR UK & Ireland comments on the changes: “We decided at the start of the pandemic that using the headspace provided to strategise was the smart thing to do. Once we had a plan in place it really has been full steam ahead at LPR! The changes that have been implemented over the last few months have been specifically designed to put us in the best position to give our customers great service and also allows us to move our business forward.”

Strategic Thinking Leads to LPR’s Haulier Overhaul

Posted on by Paul Hamblin

The current Covid-19 pandemic has provided a number of opportunities for businesses to rethink their processes and indeed has enabled some deep thinking time – a resource which can be in short supply during normal operation.

Some projects which have been in the ‘slow cooker’ for a while can be exposed to a bit more heat, leading them to come to the boil faster than they would have otherwise.

LPR UK & Ireland are one such business, taking advantage of the time afforded to really focus on its plans to open two new depots to support both customer, and its own, growth, as well as undertaking a strategic review and finalising the overhaul of its transport operating systems.

The two new depots, one in the Midlands and one in the south, represent a major investment for the business, both in terms of time and financial investment; and it went a step further, moving to a multi-provider haulier system allowing it to offer a more flexible and agile service to its customers.

The review of its transport and depot offering could not be completed without preparing for the future and it made the decision to further invest in the purchase and installation of two new heat treatment kilns into its new sites, and an additional kiln to be installed into its Irish operation.

The heat treatment kilns form part of the business’ plans to prepare for the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December, when pallets being carried across European borders will be required to meet new legislation.

This strategic planning, the subsequent changes, investments and depot openings have all been created and implemented, with contracts sealed and delivered, without any impact being seen by its customer base.

Simon Wood, Operations Director at LPR UK & Ireland comments on the changes: “We decided at the start of the pandemic that using the headspace provided to strategise was the smart thing to do. Once we had a plan in place it really has been full steam ahead at LPR! The changes that have been implemented over the last few months have been specifically designed to put us in the best position to give our customers great service and also allows us to move our business forward.”

Working in Unison: The Human/Robot Opportunity

Posted on by David Priestman

Robotics and humans working together, the workforce of the future – or is it? For the materials handling industry, this is already possible, according to experts from Yale Europe.

“Many people might believe robots in logistics are in their infancy,” said Ron Farr, Warehouse Solutions Manager for Yale. “At Yale, we’ve implemented the technology and software in order to offer sophisticated robotic solutions that can adjust to changes in their surroundings, for greater flexibility than solutions that require dedicated navigation infrastructure.”

How the robot interacts with its environment
The Yale robotics MC-10-15 counterbalance stacker can interact with and access pallets at height – for example, on conveyor belts or second or third shelves up to a height of 1.8m. The front laser allows the robot to sense the pallet, and the barcode scanner identifies the correct pallet to fulfil the instruction.

“The Yale robots, driven by Balyo geoguidance technology, are fitted with advanced obstacle detection technology which enables it to react to the situation,” said Ron. “Once the robot has detected something ahead, it can control its speed in a smooth and efficient movement to minimise stops and shocks, slowing down to a complete stop if needed.”

An additional rear scanner is installed for instances when the counterbalance stacker is travelling in the forks-forward direction. A curtain laser scans for additional above-ground obstacles, while side lasers provide a full 360 degree coverage at all times.

“The robot also informs those working in the environment of its status, emitting an audio warning and projecting a blue LED spotlight on to the ground when it is in motion. A light mounted at eye-level flashes if the truck is about to turn, which flashes more rapidly while the truck is completing a turn,” continued Ron.

Ease of communication
All trucks in the Yale robotics range, which includes the MO50-70T robotic tow tractor and MO10-25 low level order picker, feature a touchscreen interface to give instructions to the robot, and can all be switched to manual mode at the touch of a button to complete tasks outside of the truck’s pre-programmed parameters.

Logistics operators can interact with the robot with real-time truck management. The software can integrate with existing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS).

“The software can be used to assign tasks to individual trucks and is used to control the flow of traffic. The robotic solutions can be linked to other equipment in the warehouse, for example the conveyors can call the robot to remove a product. Fire alarms can tell the truck to stop in a safe area that does not hinder pedestrians exiting,” said Ron.

“Warehouse Managers can schedule the charging of the robots, which enables the use of cheaper night time rates. The trucks can go on charge on rotation, rather than all the robots arriving at lunchtime. This can help with the running costs of the vehicle, as well as maintenance, as it’s all very predictable.”

Reduced training time
Training new employees can be time-consuming, but by integrating robotics solutions into applications companies can reduce the time it takes new hires to get up to speed.

Adopting automated solutions can help applications simplify tasks reserved for employees and foster a collaborative environment. In goods-to-operator fulfilment workflows for example, employees can focus on picking and packing orders as quickly as possible from inventory, brought to them by a robotic solution. The Yale MO50-70T robotic tow tractor offers horizontal transportation over short and long distances, and brings individual items together as one unit to employees that require them.

Interconnectivity expands to the wider infrastructure too – sensors on conveyor belts can be used to detect pallets at the end of the line and call for the robotic solution to collect the pallet to transport it to its next location.

Robotics trucks are ideal for performing repetitive tasks such as movement of pallets in the warehouse environment and loading and unloading. The MO25 low level order picker offers cost efficient transfer and a regular, sustained constant flow, taking care of stock replenishment and transporting goods.

“Robotics can liberate employees to conduct tasks that humans do best,” explained Ron. “Having robots working alongside humans leverages the strengths of both to make repetitive tasks and more complex, value-added functions more efficient. It can also provide new opportunities for people with physical limitations to serve as integral parts of the process, as robots can move inventory to pickers and help keep the operation flowing.”

“Autonomous solutions drive proven cost savings by increasing labour efficiency, reducing turnover, extending asset life and increasing throughput. What really solidifies them as a smart investment is their flexibility. It enables practical accommodation for manual intervention, minimises ongoing costs in the event of minor layout adjustments and the need to supplement future initiatives such as Industry 4.0,” concluded Ron.

Working in unison, sophisticated Yale robotics solutions are ready to be deployed in appropriate applications, working in harmony with humans to drive productivity.

 

Working in Unison: The Human/Robot Opportunity

Posted on by David Priestman

Robotics and humans working together, the workforce of the future – or is it? For the materials handling industry, this is already possible, according to experts from Yale Europe.

“Many people might believe robots in logistics are in their infancy,” said Ron Farr, Warehouse Solutions Manager for Yale. “At Yale, we’ve implemented the technology and software in order to offer sophisticated robotic solutions that can adjust to changes in their surroundings, for greater flexibility than solutions that require dedicated navigation infrastructure.”

How the robot interacts with its environment
The Yale robotics MC-10-15 counterbalance stacker can interact with and access pallets at height – for example, on conveyor belts or second or third shelves up to a height of 1.8m. The front laser allows the robot to sense the pallet, and the barcode scanner identifies the correct pallet to fulfil the instruction.

“The Yale robots, driven by Balyo geoguidance technology, are fitted with advanced obstacle detection technology which enables it to react to the situation,” said Ron. “Once the robot has detected something ahead, it can control its speed in a smooth and efficient movement to minimise stops and shocks, slowing down to a complete stop if needed.”

An additional rear scanner is installed for instances when the counterbalance stacker is travelling in the forks-forward direction. A curtain laser scans for additional above-ground obstacles, while side lasers provide a full 360 degree coverage at all times.

“The robot also informs those working in the environment of its status, emitting an audio warning and projecting a blue LED spotlight on to the ground when it is in motion. A light mounted at eye-level flashes if the truck is about to turn, which flashes more rapidly while the truck is completing a turn,” continued Ron.

Ease of communication
All trucks in the Yale robotics range, which includes the MO50-70T robotic tow tractor and MO10-25 low level order picker, feature a touchscreen interface to give instructions to the robot, and can all be switched to manual mode at the touch of a button to complete tasks outside of the truck’s pre-programmed parameters.

Logistics operators can interact with the robot with real-time truck management. The software can integrate with existing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS).

“The software can be used to assign tasks to individual trucks and is used to control the flow of traffic. The robotic solutions can be linked to other equipment in the warehouse, for example the conveyors can call the robot to remove a product. Fire alarms can tell the truck to stop in a safe area that does not hinder pedestrians exiting,” said Ron.

“Warehouse Managers can schedule the charging of the robots, which enables the use of cheaper night time rates. The trucks can go on charge on rotation, rather than all the robots arriving at lunchtime. This can help with the running costs of the vehicle, as well as maintenance, as it’s all very predictable.”

Reduced training time
Training new employees can be time-consuming, but by integrating robotics solutions into applications companies can reduce the time it takes new hires to get up to speed.

Adopting automated solutions can help applications simplify tasks reserved for employees and foster a collaborative environment. In goods-to-operator fulfilment workflows for example, employees can focus on picking and packing orders as quickly as possible from inventory, brought to them by a robotic solution. The Yale MO50-70T robotic tow tractor offers horizontal transportation over short and long distances, and brings individual items together as one unit to employees that require them.

Interconnectivity expands to the wider infrastructure too – sensors on conveyor belts can be used to detect pallets at the end of the line and call for the robotic solution to collect the pallet to transport it to its next location.

Robotics trucks are ideal for performing repetitive tasks such as movement of pallets in the warehouse environment and loading and unloading. The MO25 low level order picker offers cost efficient transfer and a regular, sustained constant flow, taking care of stock replenishment and transporting goods.

“Robotics can liberate employees to conduct tasks that humans do best,” explained Ron. “Having robots working alongside humans leverages the strengths of both to make repetitive tasks and more complex, value-added functions more efficient. It can also provide new opportunities for people with physical limitations to serve as integral parts of the process, as robots can move inventory to pickers and help keep the operation flowing.”

“Autonomous solutions drive proven cost savings by increasing labour efficiency, reducing turnover, extending asset life and increasing throughput. What really solidifies them as a smart investment is their flexibility. It enables practical accommodation for manual intervention, minimises ongoing costs in the event of minor layout adjustments and the need to supplement future initiatives such as Industry 4.0,” concluded Ron.

Working in unison, sophisticated Yale robotics solutions are ready to be deployed in appropriate applications, working in harmony with humans to drive productivity.

 

Witron to Build Third DC for Metro in Canada

Posted on by David Priestman

Canada’s food and pharmacy giant METRO Inc. and the Witron Group are further reinforcing their business relationship to build a third DC together. After two projects in the Toronto area, the companies are now eyeing the Province of Quebec and will start working on a site in the city of Terrebonne in the northern suburbs of Montreal. The 600,000 square foot hi-tech distribution centre is scheduled to open in 2023.

In common with the previous two buildings, this new warehouse will be part of METRO’s fresh and frozen food network initiative. Witron’s OPM System (Order Picking Machinery), is already operating in many temperature controlled warehouses around the world. For this level of mechanization – a fully automated warehouse including storage, picking, and palletizing – it is unique to find a technology that works in sub-zero temperatures just as well as it does in an ambient environment.

The centerpiece of Witron’s automation is the COM (Case Order Machine) – a palletizer that builds mixed, very densely, and well-packed pallets. Building such well-calculated pallets saves costs during transportation and optimizes store operations as well – a true end-to-end supply chain solution. In the new Terrebonne facility, 12 COMs in the fresh zone and 9 COMs in the freezer will pick up to 285,000 cases every day. The entire system will handle approximately 6,800 SKUs in the freezer and a fresh zone.

“It is truly remarkable that METRO has already put its trust into Witron’s technology for three times since late-2017,” says Karl Hoegen, CEO of Witron, North America. He adds: “We appreciate the great relationship that our two companies have formed. We always look for more than just a client, we want to find real business partners and create a win-win relationship for many decades to come. Our market presence in Canada has grown tremendously over the past years and we are proud to open our first office in the Montreal area in 2020. This is another important milestone in the 25 years of business success we have experienced in North America.”

Founded in 1971 in Parkstein, Germany, Witron is a global leader in warehouse automation. As a general contractor, the company is responsible for the entire design and realization of all IT, control engineering, and mechanical components. In addition, system service and maintenance also belong to the performance scope of the logistics expert from Parkstein, who provides service and technical support through an OnSite team.

With annual sales of more than $16 billion, METRO Inc. is a food and pharmacy leader in Québec and Ontario.

Witron to Build Third DC for Metro in Canada

Posted on by David Priestman

Canada’s food and pharmacy giant METRO Inc. and the Witron Group are further reinforcing their business relationship to build a third DC together. After two projects in the Toronto area, the companies are now eyeing the Province of Quebec and will start working on a site in the city of Terrebonne in the northern suburbs of Montreal. The 600,000 square foot hi-tech distribution centre is scheduled to open in 2023.

In common with the previous two buildings, this new warehouse will be part of METRO’s fresh and frozen food network initiative. Witron’s OPM System (Order Picking Machinery), is already operating in many temperature controlled warehouses around the world. For this level of mechanization – a fully automated warehouse including storage, picking, and palletizing – it is unique to find a technology that works in sub-zero temperatures just as well as it does in an ambient environment.

The centerpiece of Witron’s automation is the COM (Case Order Machine) – a palletizer that builds mixed, very densely, and well-packed pallets. Building such well-calculated pallets saves costs during transportation and optimizes store operations as well – a true end-to-end supply chain solution. In the new Terrebonne facility, 12 COMs in the fresh zone and 9 COMs in the freezer will pick up to 285,000 cases every day. The entire system will handle approximately 6,800 SKUs in the freezer and a fresh zone.

“It is truly remarkable that METRO has already put its trust into Witron’s technology for three times since late-2017,” says Karl Hoegen, CEO of Witron, North America. He adds: “We appreciate the great relationship that our two companies have formed. We always look for more than just a client, we want to find real business partners and create a win-win relationship for many decades to come. Our market presence in Canada has grown tremendously over the past years and we are proud to open our first office in the Montreal area in 2020. This is another important milestone in the 25 years of business success we have experienced in North America.”

Founded in 1971 in Parkstein, Germany, Witron is a global leader in warehouse automation. As a general contractor, the company is responsible for the entire design and realization of all IT, control engineering, and mechanical components. In addition, system service and maintenance also belong to the performance scope of the logistics expert from Parkstein, who provides service and technical support through an OnSite team.

With annual sales of more than $16 billion, METRO Inc. is a food and pharmacy leader in Québec and Ontario.

UK Logistics Acquisition Deals Down By Half in Q2

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Transaction volumes in the UK logistics industry have fallen by 50% in the second quarter of 2020, according to the latest report from national accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP.

The ‘UK Logistics: Building Resistance’ report revealed that eight deals were completed from April to the end of June 2020 (16 in Q1 2020), with the overall half-year figure also down by a third compared to H1 2019. Disclosed values for deals in Q2 sat at £131 million, £79 million lower than the value recorded between January and March 2020.

Despite the sharp fall in transaction volume, there were a number of interesting deals in Q2, including the £98 million acquisition of Fowler Welch by Culina, with the acquisition of Return Loads by Mandata and Connexus by Addesecure underpinning the core drivers for M&A activity – a continued appetite for innovative technology and synergies through consolidation. Interestingly, both of these last two transactions involved private equity investors, demonstrating a steadfast desire to invest available capital to support portfolio assets or in new quality growth platforms.

The report also highlighted that the BDO Logistics FTSE Index and the FTSE All Share Index have both rallied at the end of July 2020, recovering to 17% and 19%, respectively, against levels 12 months ago.

Jason Whitworth (above), M&A partner at BDO LLP, explained: “The BDO Logistics FTSE Index fell by over 40% in March this year, reflecting the global level of disruption to trade routes and the direct impact of this on the sector.

“The impact of lockdown was significant for many, whilst some, specifically those servicing the accelerated shift to ecommerce and the online move in food retail, have benefitted. As businesses reacted to the pandemic and focussed on their own operational challenges, it is no surprise to see that Q2 saw a significant fall off in M&A activity.

“Looking forward, businesses will need to understand and adapt to the longer-term economic and operational impacts. Change creates opportunity and, as such, I anticipate further consolidation in the market as the financial pressures of lockdown hit home later in the year and those who maintain a strong capital base look to grow.”

EnerSys Water Less Battery Range Extension Slashes Topping-Up Costs

Posted on by David Priestman

EnerSys has extended its Hawker Water Less battery range to reduce downtime in time-critical logistics applications involving pallet trucks. Material-handling industrial trucks in the British Standard (BS) Class 3 can now benefit from longer water topping-up intervals and up to 75% lower maintenance costs.

A proven technology for larger industrial trucks, the Water Less battery range has now been updated to achieve greater power density, meeting the requirements of smaller vehicles in BS Class 3. This includes hand-controlled forklifts such as electric pallet jacks, stackers and tow tractors, which constitute the largest category of industrial trucks globally.

The capacity of Water Less batteries has been increased, with 60 Ah and 70 Ah plates upgraded to 65 Ah and 75 Ah respectively while maintaining the same cell height. Additionally, the cell height of the 100 Ah plates has been reduced from 669 mm to 633 mm.

“The Water Less battery range brings significant benefits to industrial trucks, namely reduced downtime and costs due to less frequent water topping up,” comments Mattia Bianconi – Application Manager EMEA Motive Power . He continued: “Logistics and warehousing operators using electric pallet trucks can now benefit from the same time- and cost-saving features without having to compromise on battery capacity.”

Less frequent, faster topping up
Water Less batteries achieve high levels of efficiency thanks to its PzM cell design technology and advanced components. This battery design ultimately reduces the need to top up, leading to longer intervals of up to 4, 8 or even 13 (depending on the charger deployed and operating conditions) compared to PzS standard flooded batteries.

Featuring a Low Electrolyte Level Sensor as a standard feature, the Water Less battery range also enables users to see at a glance when batteries need topping up, preventing damage, premature failure, and associated downtime. In addition, the AquamaticTM water refill system means that all cells can be topped up from one central point through an integrated system, reducing topping-up times.

Shorter recharge times, longer battery life and greater flexibility

The Water Less battery can be fitted with an electrolyte circulation system, which is designed to
prevent electrolyte stratification. This technology helps optimise battery charging, reducing recharge times. It also helps keep the battery cooler, maximising battery service life even in heavy duty applications.

Another key feature of the Water Less battery range is that it is compatible with both 50 Hz and HF chargers, meaning greater flexibility for users. Hawker Modular chargers from EnerSys are able to adapt automatically to the battery’s capacity, voltage, and depth of discharge.

Hawker Water Less 20 package

The Water Less battery can be supplied indivually or as part of the comprehensive Hawker Water Less 20 package, including battery, Wi-iQ battery monitoring device and Hawker Modular charger. The Wi-iQ battery monitoring device by EnerSys monitors the charge status and operating conditions of the battery while storing critical, meaningful data on service life. Users can access this information easily, at any time, by generating fleet management reports. The Wi-iQ battery monitoring device communicates with Hawker Life iQ™ Modular chargers directly, enabling battery temperature control, which makes it compatible with cold storage environments. Thanks to all these features, topping-up intervals can be extended further to 20 weeks.

The Water Less battery range is suitable for a variety of material-handling applications in logistics and warehousing, from low duty (single shift with light operation, up to 60% discharge and temperatures up to 30°C), through to normal duty (single shift, up to 80% discharge and temperatures up to 30°C) and heavy duty (single shift with discharges of 80% and high discharge currents or multi-shift operations with high ambient temperature).

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