Product category:
Power supplies and plant cabling
News Release from: Exide Technologies | Subject: Eurostar
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 11 January 2008
Minimising maintenance on Eurostar
batteries
Working quietly (literally) behind the scenes at the new St Pancras terminal is a new fleet of Linde materials handling equipment powered by the Exide Technologies Sonnenschein Dryfit gel batteries
The GBP800m refurbishment of St Pancras and the opening of the new Eurostar terminal have received a lot of media attention lately The Linde materials handling equipment at St Pancras is powered by the Exide Technologies Sonnenschein Dryfit gel batteries, which are maintenance free and do not produce any gas when being charged
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 8 Jan 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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David Bridges, Operations Manager for the Logistics Department of Eurostar UK explains, "We demanded maintenance free batteries for two reasons: the charging areas are either beneath ground level or in low ventilation areas, so removing any gassing was paramount for health and safety and to provide a comfortable working environment for staff.
Additionally, we didn't want to distract staff from their primary duties of loading and unloading baggage and catering supplies.
This means time saved in not having to regularly maintain the batteries, particularly with topping up the electrolyte, with the associated time and cost implications for training.
Sonnenschein batteries have an unrivalled track record in performance and safety.
The use of battery power will also help us achieve the Eurostar commitment to being carbon-neutral from the first day of working - 14 November 2007".
The new fleet comprises: 10 x P250 tow tractors for loading and off-loading catering supplies; 6 x P60 3-wheel tow tractors for cleaning and refuse duties; 2 x P30 tow tractors for manoeuvring trolleys round the terminal; 5 x N20 Order pickers for loading baggage and parcel cages; 3 x T20 AP powered rider pallet trucks for moving food within the stores areas; 2 x E16 Electric counter-balance trucks for stores areas; 1 x R16 Reach truck for moving crates of wines in the stores.
Because the fleet is not in continuous use and not placed under heavy load, the Dryfit gel batteries are ideal; unlike conventional flooded lead acid batteries, they are actually suited to opportunity charging.
David comments, "Dryfit batteries actually prefer to be kept warm for optimum life, so keeping them on charge whilst not in use should provide us with years of trouble-free use".
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