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Tag: lithium ion

Enersys Acquires Industrial Battery & Charger Services

Posted on by David Priestman

EnerSys®, (NYSE: ENS), the global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications, announced today that it has acquired Industrial Battery and Charger Services Limited (IBCS), a leading battery service and maintenance provider based in the United Kingdom (UK).

The acquisition represents a strategic move for EnerSys®, enabling the company to expand its motive power service offerings and strengthen its presence in the UK market. With the addition of IBCS, EnerSys® will be able to further enhance its comprehensive range of battery-related services, from installation and maintenance to repair and replacement.

“We are excited to welcome IBCS to the EnerSys family,” said Vincent Baudelet, VP Sales and Service, Motive Power EMEA, at EnerSys. “Their expertise in battery service and maintenance will enhance our ability to provide end-to-end solutions for our customers, and their strong reputation in the UK market will help us grow our business in the region.”

IBCS will continue to operate under its current name and branding, and its management team is expected to remain in place. The acquisition is effective immediately.

“We are delighted to be joining forces with EnerSys,” said Paul Hewson, Managing Director at IBCS. “This partnership will allow us to offer our customers even more comprehensive and integrated battery solutions, including top-of-the-line lead acid batteries, proprietary Thin Plate Pure Lead technology (TPPL), and the industry’s most advanced lithium battery while also providing new opportunities for our employees.”

Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

EnerSys®, a global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications, manufactures and distributes energy systems solutions and motive power batteries, specialty batteries, battery chargers, power equipment, battery accessories and outdoor equipment enclosure solutions to customers worldwide. Energy Systems, which combine enclosures, power conversion, power distribution and energy storage, are used in the telecommunication, broadband and utility industries, uninterruptible power supplies, and numerous applications. Motive power batteries and chargers are utilized in electric forklift trucks and other industrial electric powered vehicles requiring stored energy solutions. Specialty batteries are used in aerospace and defense applications, large over-the-road trucks, premium automotive, medical and security systems applications. EnerSys also provides aftermarket and customer support services to its customers in over 100 countries through its sales and manufacturing locations around the world. EnerSys is the market leader for premium Thin Plate Pure Lead batteries which are sold across all three lines of business

Enersys Unveils Solutions at LogiMAT

Posted on by David Priestman

EnerSys® (NYSE:ENS), a global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications, is committed to putting its customers first by showcasing the Company’s latest solutions to empower their operational success in a changing world in Hall 10, Stand B09 at LogiMAT 2023. From traditional flooded lead acid to advanced Thin Plate Pure Lead (TPPL) and Lithium-ion battery technology as well as the latest charging systems and battery management tools to the largest network of service providers, EnerSys® provides a complete, turnkey portfolio of solutions that can be tailored to meet the customer’s exclusive power demands. LogiMAT® 2023 will take place from April 25 to 27 at the Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre in Germany, one of Europe’s largest international trade fairs for intralogistics solutions and process management.

“When engineering our products, we try to place ourselves in our customers’ shoes and develop solutions that will help address their operational pain points which often include scheduling disruptions due to labour issues, productivity inefficiencies from limited battery options and a general lack of knowledge on how to right-size their fleet,” said Harold Vanasse, Senior Director of Marketing, Motive Power Global at EnerSys®. “As we all know, no two operations are the same. It’s no longer a ‘one-size-fits-all’ battery industry and that is why we’ve created our exclusive EnSite™ modelling software. It eliminates the guesswork with data-driven, actionable intelligence that identifies the ideal battery and charging combination to optimize a customer’s operations.”

In addition to the Company’s signature line of sustainable, virtually maintenance-free NexSys® TPPL and NexSys® iON batteries and legacy lead acid battery solutions, an onsite wireless charging setup will also be showcased on the EnerSys® booth in Hall 10, Stand B09. The full array of EnerSys® battery management tools, including the Wi-iQ® battery monitoring device, the Truck iQ™ smart battery dashboard, and the E-Connect® mobile app will be other focal points at this year’s show. The Company’s elite team of experts will also be available to discuss how its proprietary EnSite™ modelling software can be the first step to enhanced productivity and a lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

EnerSys®, a global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications, manufactures and distributes energy systems solutions and motive power batteries, specialty batteries, battery chargers, power equipment, battery accessories and outdoor equipment enclosure solutions to customers worldwide. Energy Systems, which combine enclosures, power conversion, power distribution and energy storage, are used in the telecommunication, broadband and utility industries, uninterruptible power supplies, and numerous applications. Motive power batteries and chargers are utilized in electric forklift trucks and other industrial electric powered vehicles requiring stored energy solutions. Specialty batteries are used in aerospace and defense applications, large over-the-road trucks, premium automotive, medical and security systems applications. EnerSys also provides aftermarket and customer support services to its customers in over 100 countries through its sales and manufacturing locations around the world. With the NorthStar acquisition, EnerSys has solidified its position as the market leader for premium Thin Plate Pure Lead batteries which are sold across all three lines of business.

 

Lithium-Ion Batteries Power Automation

Posted on by David Priestman

Automated internal logistic platforms, such as AGV and AMR, as well as other industrial autonomous robots, are becoming more widespread due to lithium-ion batteries, as their apparent advantages make them more attractive than the various alternatives.

Previously, most used batteries with lead-acid based chemistry, like forklifts and other industrial mobile machines. Regardless of the specific type, these lead-acid based batteries are considered to have poor lifespans, especially when used in deep discharge cycles. The rapidly growing global market for lithium-ion batteries has allowed Johnson Matthey Battery Systems to become a leader in the industry, opening up several growth opportunities. As it now stands, the company has developed a full-service manufacturing capability, allowing it to offer a cost-effective solution for all customers.

Due to the low lifespans of lead-acid based batteries, many are now instead opting for lithium-ion batteries, which have a lifespan that’s approximately 4x longer. This is partly down to energy density, which can be up to 5x higher in li-ion batteries (50-100Wh/kg in lead-acid vs up to 260 Wh/kg in NCA/NMC cells). What’s more, lead-acid based batteries can be cumbersome, unlike Li-ion batteries, meaning they’re unsuitable for many mobile robots.

Mitigating Against Safety Concerns of Li-ion Batteries

As with many new technologies, li-ion batteries have some downsides, with the biggest being the concerns over their safety. Thermal runaway is possible in the event of overheating or overcharging, which can lead to fire. But the risk from this can be minimised. Johnson Matthey Battery Systems has achieved this by utilising a Battery Management System – which can also be used to gauge information about a battery – and by ensuring a robust mechanical design.

Moreover, most high-quality batteries have secondary backup protection, such as a fuse or SCP. A robust design is also critical, protecting the battery from physical damage while also contributing towards a long lifespan. Cell holders, cell connectors, enclosures – all should be constructed to the highest possible specifications for maximum effectiveness.

Cell Chemistry to Further Enhance Safety

LFP cell chemistry is now being used in many industrial applications to enhance safety further. This is still li-ion technology but behaves less violently when subjected to any type of force. Even ruptured LFP cells only cause smoke or minor fire contained within the battery, plus their thermal runaway temperatures are higher than NMC and NCA. LFP cells also have an exceptionally high cycle life, even with 100% Depth of Discharge (DoD). Depending on the model, the figure could reach 2,000 or more cycles, around double that of NMC and up to quadruple that of NCA. Add in DoD reduction, and the total number can be several thousand more.

There is a trade-off for the extra safety and performance: the energy density is lower than NMC and NCA – currently, it is 150-200 Wh/kg vs 220-270 Wh/kg. But the energy density is steadily improving and is already acceptable for industrial applications. What’s more, it is already up to 4x higher than that of lead-acid. Thanks to this improving energy density, LFP cells are now becoming the preferred choice for many industrial batteries.

The manufacture of LFP batteries has some challenges, but these shouldn’t stop experienced manufacturers, such as Johnson Matthey Battery Systems, from manufacturing them effectively.

Johnson Matthey Battery Systems, part of the Johnson Matthey group, is a European-based manufacturer of advanced battery systems with considerable experience within the field. The company specialises in lithium-ion battery assembly processes, manufacturing a wide range of battery packs with various applications, and operates in all other areas of battery production, including design, prototyping, and assembly. It designs and manufactures advanced battery systems of 3.6V to 60V, utilising its expertise and manufacturing capabilities to produce batteries that meet all international standards and the expectations of customers from various industries.

Currently, Johnson Matthey Battery Systems is working on several new projects, as well as internal projects to develop its manufacturing capabilities. With the market for AGVs currently increasing, the company expects to further develop its footprint in this area. One area of particular interest is improving battery pack performance by increasing lifecycles. This focus on improvement has helped JMBS to become one of the world’s most trusted li-ion battery manufacturers.

Wireless Charging Wisdom

Posted on by David Priestman

A new wireless charging system for e-vehicles such as AGVs and AMRs follows the maxim: ‘Charge Wisely, Charge Wirelessly’

As it opens a brand new EMEA office in Helmond, the Netherlands, Delta, a global provider of power and thermal management solutions, has introduced the brand new Wireless Charging System MOOVair Series – an innovative industrial charging solution for automated electric-driven vehicles. The newly presented MOOVair 1 kW Wireless Charging System offers up to 1 kW contactless, high efficient charging for all types of 24 V / 48 V batteries, and is suitable for automated e-vehicles that require a frequent battery charge.

Alistair Coltart, Line of Business Head for Industrial Battery Charging Solutions, said: “Driven by the growing trend of automation and digitalization within industrial applications, the usage of electric driven, battery powered autonomous vehicles is heavily increasing. This trend is requiring an automated, highly efficient and reliable battery charging process, which can be 100% supported by wireless charging technology. With decades of experience in electric and electronic technology development, Delta is ready to help our customers on this. Our new product, the MOOVair Series, supports safe, smart, wireless charging in order to enable fully automated, unmanned operation for your AGVs, AMRs, and e-vehicles in factories or other application fields.”

The 1 kW Wireless Charging System features a 1,000 W output, peak efficiency of 93%, and power transmitted over a gap of up to 20 mm. It is made of two parts: a transmitter connected to the AC supply as primary charging unit and an onboard charging unit connected to the battery. The onboard charging unit is available in versions suitable for 24 V or 48 V batteries, and multiple onboard units of either variant can share one transmitter pad saving space and cost. The onboard charging unit is compact (168 x 82 x 28 mm) and lightweight (1.5 kg, onboard charging pad included), making it simple to place inside even small e-vehicles. With the charging pads protected against water and dust to IP65, and a robust design for shock and vibration, the MOOVair Series has reliable performance even in harsh industrial environments.

Technical service

Another highlighted feature of the MOOVair Series is the choice to charge either by inbuilt profiles covering a range of batteries (bespoke profiles available on request) or by CAN bus control. With no cable, no connector wear, no maintenance downtime, smart communication and remote management, the 1 kW Wireless Charging System MOOVair truly realizes smart, automatic 24/7 operation for industrial electric vehicles manufacturers, including AGV and AMR, battery manufacturers, system integrators, industrial automation planners and solution providers.

Delta has inaugurated a new facility at the Automotive Campus in Helmond, near Eindhoven, the Netherlands to support the expansion of its industrial automation, industrial power supply and automotive business development, product testing and technical service in Europe, the Middle East & Africa (EMEA). Through the implementation of Delta’s smart energy-saving solutions and innovative eco-friendly design, the new 4,055-square metre facility is expected to consume 56.84% less electricity than traditional buildings annually. The Delta Helmond office will eventually house over 150 employees and further cement Delta’s leading capabilities for e-mobility.

HUBTEX and INTIS launch inductive charging system

Posted on by David Priestman

Choice of charging technology is key to the efficient use of Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) in intralogistics. The aim is to supply the vehicle with energy as quickly and cost-effectively as possible, while maximising the internal material flow. To achieve this, HUBTEX is forming a partnership with INTIS.

HUBTEX was responsible for introducing the PhoeniX AGV – the world’s first fully automated electric multidirectional sideloader for handling long, heavy and bulky goods. Now, thanks to an inductive charging system from INTIS, the vehicle’s 48V lithium-ion battery can be supplied with a charging current of 400A contactlessly and wirelessly. The same concept can then be transferred to all HUBTEX vehicles with electric drives.

As the requirements in intralogistics become ever more complex, energy management is increasingly used to save time and money. It has become clear that the only way to make your AGV solution as economical as possible is to choose an optimal charging system. In HUBTEX’s experience, stationary cable charging is not the best long-term solution due to the amount of time and space required. Manual charging is certainly the most economical solution, but it relies heavily on the employees.

Swapping the battery for a replacement, on the other hand, takes far less time but requires an appropriate charging infrastructure and skilled personnel. Another option is an automated battery changing station, which can, in many cases, reduce the number of vehicles required, but must be taken into account in the layout and design.

HUBTEX therefore believes that inductive battery charging for AGVs is the best way forward. In its chosen solution, charging pads on the vehicle automatically interact with charging plates on the floor or on the walls as soon as the vehicle is positioned accordingly.

Inductive charging

“By partnering with INTIS, a specialist in inductive charging technology, we are investing in a completely autonomous concept that we believe works best with a combination of lithium-ion batteries and an inductive battery charging system,” explains Michael Röbig, an expert in energy management at HUBTEX.

“In the past, maximum charge power was primarily achieved with cable-based charging equipment. Now we have inductive rapid charging systems, which can charge the vehicles quickly and ensure high availability thanks to the high charging currents.”

The compact charging station can be placed in the respective warehouse or production environment, where the users can take advantage of production-related downtimes for charging purposes, for example. The user has constant access to data such as capacity, status and charging time. Furthermore, inductive charging is maintenance-free, less susceptible to vandalism and, thanks to the smaller lithium-ion batteries, conserves resources. It also requires less time and effort than powering the vehicles using charging stations.

Hyster offers Sunlight Li-ion option

Posted on by David Priestman

Hyster is giving customers more ways to select the best battery technology for their application with Sunlight Group lithium-ion batteries now an option for selected Hyster forklifts and warehouse trucks.

The Sunlight Li.ION FORCE batteries, which will be available for selected 24V, 48V, and 80V lift trucks and warehouse equipment, are fully linked to the truck via the CANbus communication system to optimise battery management. In addition, Sunlight Li.ON FORCE batteries themselves are fitted with the innovative GLocal Cloud Management System, which offers remote access and insight from anywhere in the world.

Sunlight Group Batteries are particularly well suited to intensive and multi-shift operations, as well as those where hygiene is a priority, such as food, beverage, and pharmaceutical production. Sunlight Li.ION FORCE  batteries are free of gaseous emissions and there is a no risk of acid spillage, making them a ‘clean’ power option.

“In the right application, switching to lithium-ion batteries can help maximise uptime and efficiency,” says Paul Wells, Director, Commercial Aftermarket EMEA for Hyster Europe. “A single lithium-ion battery can replace multiple lead-acid batteries, freeing up charging space, while also enabling opportunity charging during breaks to maximise handling time and reduce overall costs.”

Depending on the application, a single use lithium-ion battery can enable the truck to be used over two or three shifts, and convenient, short opportunity charging periods do not affect the battery life.

In addition, lithium-ion batteries are capable of faster charging than traditional lead-acid batteries, and as no battery exchange is required with integrated lithium-ion power, this may support higher uptime. The new Sunlight Li.ION FORCE batteries available for Hyster equipment are designed with active balancing so that all cells are equally charged at all times and they include a fast charge feature. A choice of rapid charger options is available.

To support charging management strategies and help prevent unplanned downtime, the Sunlight Li.ION FORCE batteries have a discharge indicator which displays the state of charge. Sunlight Group’s Glocal cloud-based telematics also provides real-time monitoring of battery data via WiFi/GSM, as well as insight into the battery’s parameters that allows remote serviceability.

As the batteries integrate with the Hyster lift truck’s CANbus communication system, it is possible to optimise battery performance and life and provide error reporting.

“As the Sunlight Li.ION FORCE batteries also feature a maintenance-free design, with no watering required, applications may find this helps reduce overall maintenance costs,” says Paul. “Only an annual check is required, and the modular design makes service interventions highly efficient.”

Hyster lift trucks with Sunlight Li.ION FORCE batteries, and a wide range of other battery options, are available to order now from the global network of local Hyster distribution partners.

Toshiba launches “high-energy” lithium-ion battery

Posted on by David Priestman

Toshiba Corporation has expanded its SCiB product offering with the launch of an innovative 20Ah-HP rechargeable lithium-ion battery cell that it says delivers high energy and high power at the same time.

The market wants batteries that deliver both high-energy and high-power characteristics, but until now this has required a trade-off for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. In an EV, for example, a high-energy battery allows the vehicle to drive further on a single charge – but it lowers power input and output and extends charge times. Toshiba says it drew on its know-how in current high-energy and high-power products to develop a new cell that successfully combines the advantages of both.

The cell is described as ideal for heavy-load applications where high power input and output are essential, and for situations where battery cells must suppress heat and operate continuously, such as rapid charging of commercial vehicles, regenerative power systems for rolling stock, and industrial equipment. The cell is the same size as Toshiba’s current 20Ah product, allowing current customers to easily upgrade to the improved input and output power with the same module pack. The cell is now available to order worldwide.

Compared to Toshiba’s current 20Ah cell, the new 20Ah-HP cell delivers 1.7x higher input and 1.6x higher output, realised by an approximately 40% reduction of resistance in the cell. This improvement efficiently suppresses heat generation when a large current is applied, allowing design of a simpler cooling system. For example, depending on the customer’s system, water cooling can be simplified to forced air cooling, and forced air cooling simplified to natural cooling. The lowered resistance also reduces overvoltage, allowing the cell to function in a wider range of state-of-charge (SOC).

The new 20Ah-HP cell achieves a longer life than the current 20Ah cell by suppressing heat during continuous charging and discharging, due to its lower internal resistance. Under test conditions, the cell maintained almost 100% capacity after 8,000 charge/discharge cycles, while the capacity of the current 20Ah cell decreased by approximately 10%.

The new 20Ah-HP cell delivers improved input and output power but maintains the same size as the current 20Ah cell, allowing current customers to easily upgrade to the improved performance with the same module pack.

Toshiba expects to see the new cell deployed in automobiles, industrial equipment, and storage battery systems. Some examples include drive power supply and emergency power supply for railways, regenerative power supply for harbour cranes, electric ferries, hybrid buses, trucks, hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and plug-in HEVs (PHEVs), alternatives to lead-acid batteries and storage battery systems.

Li-ion switch brings productivity benefits

Posted on by David Priestman

A switch from gas to lithium-ion powered forklifts has brought productivity benefits for a UK dried fruit, home baking and snack products company. Whitworths has replaced the gas-powered counterbalance trucks in operation at its Northamptonshire production and storage facility with lithium-ion machines from the Toyota range.

In all, Toyota has supplied Whitworths with 27 new three- and four-wheel counterbalance forklifts, together with a number of powered pallet trucks, reach trucks and stackers.

Every machine in the new fleet – not just the counterbalance models – is powered by the latest lithium-ion battery technology.

Toyota Key Account Manager, Jeff Morley, commented: “Heightened environmental concerns, rising fuel prices and greater awareness of staff welfare are leading to a decline in LPG truck sales while demand for lithium-ion forklifts has been on a sustained upward curve for some time. In fact, nearly a quarter of all Toyota electric-powered forklift trucks ordered for delivery in the UK now feature lithium-ion battery technology.”

The switch from gas to lithium-ion powered counterbalance trucks has delivered significant productivity gains for Whitworths, thanks in part to the fact that the time-consuming process of refilling gas bottles has been eliminated.

“Our old LPG counterbalance trucks had to have their gas bottle topped-up at least once every shift which meant 15 minutes of truck downtime every time a refill was required,” explained Jim Rattan, Whitworths’ Outbound Front Line Manager.

Across the fleet truck availability is further enhanced by the fact that lithium-ion batteries allow for opportunity charging, which means that all of Whitworths’ trucks can be recharged anywhere within the company’s site during breaks in a shift or other periods of downtime by the operator.

All of the trucks in Whitworth’s new fleet also feature Toyota’s I_Site integrated telematics system. Warehouse trucks from Toyota are factory-fitted with I_Site and a choice of three packages designed to suit a user’s specific needs is available to optimise the performance of every size and type of forklift fleet.

“We are delighted to have won the contract to supply Whitworths’ materials handling fleet,” said Morley. “We began our discussions some 18 months before the contract with their previous supplier came to an end and, after listening to their needs, were confident that switching to lithium-ion battery power would bring real operational benefits to the company. This has proved to be the case.”

 

Jungheinrich helps Vaillant switch to lithium-ion

Posted on by David Priestman

Aiming to continue business growth through a full upgrade and replacement of its warehouse fleet and a warehouse construction project, Vaillant Industrial, part of Vaillant Group, has prioritised a focus on sustainability in line with business objectives to design and deliver systems and manufactured products that use renewable energy.

With plans to become a carbon-neutral plant by 2025, it partnered with lithium-ion specialist Jungheinrich to introduce a new 26 vehicle lithium-ion fleet to operations.

Through this collaboration, Vaillant is now able to fully retire its lead acid fleet and become a 100% lithium-ion site whilst also gaining economic and operational benefits including a more stable and efficient power source that is faster and easier to use.

The lithium-ion batteries are longer-lasting and more efficient, resulting in a reduction of maintenance costs and reduced risk of dangerous acids or gases being emitted. The new fleet has increased the capacity on some of its larger trucks from 2.5t to 3.5t through a combination of ETV 216i reach trucks and conventional counterbalances, allowing the vehicles to cater for the pressed steel works and tools. The ETV 216i is the core product in the new fleet and is the first reach truck in the world with an integrated lithium-ion battery, aiding the progression towards sustainability goals.

The first five trucks and all tow tractors have now been operational for a month with great reception from employees. During the transition, Vaillant also was able to take advantage of Jungheinrich’s ‘Power By The Hour’ initiative – a flexible way to pay for only the hours the truck is used for – to ensure it remained operational. With the new fleet, Vaillant have been able to eliminate battery change from its operations by utilising opportunity charging through lithium-ion technology.

The new lithium and rapid interim charging times enable a virtually continuous operation on a 24/7 basis and pickers on site have seen improvements in productivity and efficiency as manual handling is reduced with increased uptime. Additionally, Jungheinrich integrated Vaillant’s fleet with automated scales and increased gadgetry on trucks for improved safety.

Vaillant also completed a full warehouse construction upgrade project with Jungheinrich which introduced a new logistics and racking system that optimised storage up to 11m and can accommodate the new ETV 216i trucks. This new and optimised warehouse has increased capacity from 1,100 pallet locations to 4,000.

Training has been a key part of the warehouse upgrade. Vaillant now has six qualified instructors on site that went through the Jungheinrich training at one of the dedicated training centres across the UK. This has allowed Vaillant to assess and validate current employees as well as temporary labour to operate at the extended heights of above 7m that it is now moving into.

It also trialled Jungheinrich’s Virtual Reality Simulator on-site, with a view to be able to provide a safe environment to train and assess employees. Using this VRS, drivers will experience a real-life situation in an environment that holds no risk in the warehouse and non-drivers can gain an appreciation of the role as well as Vaillant benefiting from a digital footprint of operations.

Following on from these vast sustainable improvements and progression of business objectives, Vaillant plans to expand its fleet for 2022 and become 100% lithium-ion powered and plans to use Jungheinrich as its main provider for all types of vehicles including production.

Adrian Ancliff, Head of Production Logistics and Scheduling, Vaillant Industrial, commented: “We have certainly achieved what we wanted to from our partnership with Jungheinrich, and the end design, construction, and way our new warehouse operates is fantastic and has exceeded our expectations. The team was very responsive and excelled to keep us operational throughout.

“Being able to become a 100% lithium-ion site is superb and helps us move much closer to our sustainable goals. Looking to 2022, we plan to expand the fleet and will continue to use Jungheinrich as our main provider. The future is bright, and the future is yellow!”

Neil Warren, Region One Business Director at Jungheinrich, said: “We are thrilled that we can play a role in Vaillant Group’s move to more sustainable operations by transitioning fully from lead-acid gas to lithium-ion technology. This provides huge environmental and economic benefits including efficiency and productivity gains.

“We are very passionate about providing sustainable solutions for our customers that also complement business objectives and so it has been a pleasure to work alongside Vaillant on the upgrade and renewal of its warehouse fleet. We have thoroughly enjoyed our partnership and look forward to an ongoing relationship with Vaillant.”

MAT Foundry Group moves to lithium-ion

Posted on by David Priestman

MAT Foundry Group UK, a leading manufacturer of cast and machined products, has announced its move to lithium-ion in partnership with Jungheinrich.

Consisting of eight companies and stretching across three continents, the MAT Foundry Group’s seven foundries produce over 350,000 tonnes of iron per year, maintaining ten machining facilities across Europe, Asia, Central and North America combining to form one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of car parts.

The MAT Foundry group subsidiary Eurac Poole started using a combination of diesel and electric Jungheinrich trucks three years ago. Jungheinrich’s lithium-ion EFG trucks will be used to combat ergonomic and efficiency challenges that the drivers faced with the previous outdated warehouse fleet, such as easily rotating 180° within the tight working aisles.

Additionally, the investment in electric forklift trucks is just the latest in a growing number of green initiatives designed to improve the Group’s wider environmental efforts. In a bid to reduce MAT Foundry’s carbon footprint and work towards its sustainability goals, the move to lithium-ion trucks will create a cleaner atmosphere for workers, removing 279 tonnes of Co2 and reducing diesel consumption by as much as 60,000 litres.

Shaun Lindfield, Commercial Director at MAT Foundry Group UK, comments: “We are thrilled to integrate a fully electric fleet into our warehouse in January 2022. The desire for an efficient and more flexible fleet is paramount in our 24/7 operations. We currently use hydrostatic diesel but many retailers have stopped producing this, accelerating our move to lithium-ion and further allowing us to increase our commitment to sustainability initiatives.”

Phil Pearson, Director Region Two at Jungheinrich UK, comments: “MAT Foundry Group is a leader in engineering and manufacturing that requires a flexible, efficient and reliable fleet. Jungheinrich is thrilled to partner with such a forward thinking organisation to support its sustainability efforts in the move to a lithium-ion fleet.

The installation of the new fleet consisting of five EFG 425k, two EFG 535k and two EFG S50 will be deployed in January 2022.

 

 

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