Longer lasting battery

Enersys claims its heavy-duty Ironclad range of motive power batteries from EnerSys offers more power, extended running times and longer life than comparable designs.

This means it can be used to support intensive lift truck operations and other demanding materials handling applications. The range is particularly suited to situations where longer truck run times are needed to minimise the use of spare batteries. Models rated from 276 to 1380 Ah are available in standard sizes for small pallet trucks up to large reach and counterbalance trucks.

The batteries are available in the UK and Europe but have been extensively used in the USA.

The positive electrodes in the battery’s cells incorporate square Cladex tube technology that results in around 18% more surface area than the round tubes or flat plates used in conventional lead-acid batteries. This maximises the contact area between the electrodes’ active material and the electrolyte which enables higher sustained voltages throughout the discharge cycle. The batteries are also used with an electrolyte with a higher-than-average specific gravity. These features deliver more power and increased capacity for work – in simple terms a lift truck can work for longer. The batteries have highest ampere-hour capacity ratings, outperforming conventional designs with up to 15 per cent more power, which is ideal for the higher discharge rates demanded by modern AC-drive lift trucks.

To maintain a lift truck’s constant drive and lift performance throughout a shift, the motor must offset a battery’s normal voltage drop during discharge by drawing more and more amps. The Ironclad battery’s ability to sustain higher voltages, combined with industry-leading capacity ratings, extends its run time when compared with conventional lead-acid models. Materials handling equipment will run for up to one hour longer on each charge, reducing the need for battery changes and maximising productivity in even the heaviest duty applications including busy distribution centres and other 24/7 operations such as airports and transport hubs.