Refrigeration is one of the most demanding material handling applications

BSLBATT lithium iron phosphate batteries have more advantages than lead-acid batteries when powering electric forklifts, stackers, forward trucks, order picking trucks, golf carts and electric vehicles or providing storage for solar systems. They live longer. They are lighter, but have higher capacity. They require no maintenance and can be installed in any orientation. They also charge faster and can be stored or used without needing to be fully charged.

harsh environment

Cold rooms are by far the most demanding industry in the supply chain, as operators and machines face low temperatures and harsh working environments. Imagine an electric forklift operating around the clock in a cold room (-25⁰C) without maintenance or battery replacement …

Sound like science fiction?

Well, this is a reality for leading truck suppliers and their major customers. Dagros Logistics. The global leader in material handling solutions is offering a lithium-ion powered forklift for refrigerated trucks (down to -30 ° C). Lithium-ion powered drives save cost and energy uptime and improve performance for longer.

Business challenge

The main suppliers of the European “cold chain” are supplying products to some of Europe’s largest cold storage distribution companies. DagrofaLogistik is one of them. DagrofaLogistik has a large number of counterweight trucks, stackers, reach trucks, order picking trucks, etc. Types of warehouse trucks and special vehicles.

Their pain is efficiency and operating costs. Extreme low temperatures can negatively impact truck performance, as traditional lead / acid batteries reduce charge and discharge. Low temperature performance. The battery must be replaced frequently and maintenance costs are high. A lot of resources are tied to replacing battery packs, trucks and battery pack maintenance personnel and equipment, and the move to lithium-ion is designed to address these issues and achieve better economics and operational efficiency.“One pack per truck policy means We reduced the number of packages by 50% and saved the time of battery replacement.

Longer cycle life and maintenance-free results in considerable ROI and TCO. Dagrofa Logistik Logistics and Operations Manager A / S ion volume can provide multiple lead / acid packages with long service life. Multiplied by the total number of one large truck. The potential positive impact of distribution centers like Dagrofa Logistik on savings and operations. People are impressive.

Operating income

The benefits list doesn’t stop there. Dagrofa Logistik experienced truck operator “I like its ease of use,” he said, as a test driver for lithium-ion trucks, he said. He continued: “I don’t need to change the battery, it requires a lot of pressure on my shoulders. Battery-When fully charged, I can drive for almost 9 hours, while lead / acid batteries range between 4-5 hours. Introduced the opportunity to charge the battery during the rest period, now we can operate the machine without interruption, that is 3 shifts. “In terms of measurable benefits, he emphasized that increasing production capacity, time and money without the need to replace batteries, saving one battery in compliance with truck policies, and no maintenance required

Lithium Ion Battery.

A huge victory in cold storage material handling

Dagrofa Logistik’s logistics and operations manager is a happy person. New lithium-ion battery technology is revolutionizing its distribution center’s efforts to optimize operations and reduce costs:

“There is no doubt that my economic benefit is huge. With lithium, we can save 36 minutes per truck per day (6 replacements, 6 minutes) by simply replacing the battery (that is, without the battery). In addition, we do Need to buy a spare battery pack. This way we can save 50% of our initial battery investment “

Lithium-ion battery packs have a significantly longer life and can save even more costs. The life of lithium-ion batteries is 3-5 times that of lead-acid batteries. Each reach truck is equipped with 2 lead / acid packages-one is operating and the other is charging.

Considering that lithium-ion batteries can provide more than 3-5 cycles than lead / acid batteries, a single lithium-ion battery can provide energy corresponding to multiple lead / acid batteries over its long life. Multiplying the total number of trucks in a large distribution center like Dagrofa Logistik can have a potentially positive impact on savings and operational efficiency.

● BSLBATT energy solution for maximum efficiency in cold storage

● Lithium-ion batteries run longer

● Heated lithium-ion battery solution with “refrigeration” charging

● Maintenance-free technology

Due to temperature differences, it is recommended to keep the forklift cold as long as possible to avoid condensation. With lithium-ion technology, the truck can run longer with 1 battery, can be charged in cold environments (with battery heater option), and requires no maintenance. The designed solution is based on a lithium-balanced battery management system (BMS) as the battery interface for forward-moving trucks.

One of the main advantages of BMS is that it has nothing to do with cell type and chemical properties. In other words, the battery interface has complete flexibility in choosing lithium-ion chemistry, battery type, and battery supplier. In this way, the battery becomes a commodity. Flexibility provides truck manufacturers and end customers with independence and safety, as both of them can choose the best battery (that is, the best technology and economic applicability) that is most suitable for their application on the market today.

With the flexible and standard BMS-truck interface, multi-source battery procurement can be achieved without affecting truck safety, reliability, and performance. Standardized interfaces reduce the risk of technical issues; ensure stable performance and reliability; promote service and support; and allow extended packaging warranty.

Both lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries can operate in the cold stores. But did you know that lead-acid batteries lose a significant amount of energy when operating within a cold store environment? Lithium-ion batteries, on the other hand, lose little to no battery performance within the cold store and have an energy efficiency that is up to 30% higher than lead-acid. This allows for longer running time, and in combination with the ability to charge within the cold store thanks to our battery heater solution, the trucks are able to perform continuously throughout the shift. Having the truck always within the cold environment prevents condensation issues that occur when entering and exiting a cold store frequently.

Automation of repetitive tasks in refrigerated areas

Autonomous trucks can take over logistics in cold regions

● Workers can focus on work outside cold areas

● Continuous flow and increased productivity

Working in cold environments can cause difficulties for workers, resulting in frequent breaks and high labor costs. With automatic truck (AGV) takeovers, operators can focus on other tasks. Makes driver’s life easier and optimizes workflow in cold environments.

Considering the life and better performance of lithium-ion batteries, it is now possible for truck manufacturers to provide a total solution, namely trucks equipped with native battery packs.

In this way, OEMs have a golden opportunity to seize new strategic growth opportunities and increase turnover and revenue.