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Cold charge
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December 2007
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When specialist cold store operator Chiltern Cold Storage Group built a new warehouse and expanded its lift truck fleet, 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 transporters working in a double-deep cold store built to serve Chiltern’s expanding range of food logistics customers.
“We wanted to equip the new cold store with the latest equipment,” says Paul Jackson, founder and MD 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.”
The lift truck supplier recommended the high performance, high capacity Hawker Perfect Plus batteries which offer extended work cycles between charges for the reach trucks and powered pallet transporters. The company 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 outstanding energy efficiency - as much as 20 per cent higher than traditional 50 Hz chargers. Powertech automatically detects the battery's level of discharge and will supply only the amount of power needed – and no more – 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 also 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.
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Author
Chris Rowlands
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