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Lithium batteries are a fundamental innovation in the field of energy for Industry 4.0.: they represent a big step forward compared to lead batteries.
The use of lithium batteries for Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV) and Laser Guided Vehicles (LGV) is extremely convenient, especially when it comes to a productive system organized according to integrated logistics.
Increasing industrial performance with integrated logistics: which is Lithium Batteries contribution?
- Firstly, the batteries in these kinds of vehicles don’t need daily maintenance and, thus, the efficiency of the plant increases sharply.
- Secondly, it takes far less time for these batteries to recharge compared to lead batteries.
- Lastly, lithium batteries reduce operating costs connected to lead batteries, such as charging salt and vacuum system for exhaust smoke, let alone costs deriving from regulations.
Flash Battery
E80 Group, looking for new solutions to enhance its customer service, chose lithium batteries for all AGV and LGV systems. This has been made possible by the useful collaboration with Flash Battery started in 2015. This is a young, fast-growing company founded in 2012 by Marco Righi and Alan Pastorelli.
Flash Battery designs and produces lithium batteries, mainly for the industrial sector. In only 4 years, its turnover grew from a starting point of 700,000 euros in 2014 up to 13.5 million euros in 2018. Nowadays, it employs 45 people and invests heavily in research and development. The expanding market entering the equation casts a bright light for the near future of this company.
Its in-house technology made Flash Battery a leading company for lithium battery manufacture for the industrial market. Flash Battery combines the skills of the best manufacturers of industrial machinery and vehicles throughout the whole production process, from prototype design to mass production.
Lithium batteries for E80 Group integrated systems
In 2013, Flash Battery started to collaborate with us. At the end of that year, it manufactured the first lithium batteries for some LGVs. The other two of the vehicles used in a Canadian customer plant were soon equipped with those batteries: the vehicles had to operate in a cold room under extreme conditions. After having undergone this important test, in 2014, Flash Battery was chosen by Electric80 and BEMA as a technological partner to set up an Italian industrial plant equipped with 20 LGVs powered by lithium batteries.
Marco Righi, Flash Battery CEO, illustrated how this collaboration with E80 Group led to enhance the technological development of the products during an interview. In detail, since the beginning of this partnership, Kaitek Flash Battery developed two fundamental functions for automated vehicles systems:
- Rapid charging increases the plant’s efficiency by reducing the time of charge;
- Flash Data Center, revolutionary automatic software that controls daily every battery installed around the world.
Flash Data Center Software was created for this specific purpose: the Service department can monitor in every moment the situation of the batteries installed on AGVs and LGVs operating in smart factories built by E80 Group.
We now know in advance when works of maintenance are required. Thanks to Automatic Alert System, we can predict malfunctions and intervene immediately to avoid dangerous situations before they occur so that high efficiency is once again guaranteed. There is no other company around capable of creating such an effective remote control.
Lithium batteries to improve efficiency
Flash Battery so far has distributed over 1500 lithium batteries in more than 80 plants installed by E80 Group. Amongst its customer, there are companies from over 30 countries operating in every sector: automation, logistics, navigation, and manufacturers of vehicles and machinery such as concrete mixers, aerial work platforms, industrial electrical vehicles, electric vehicles for delivery service within city centers and waste collection, vehicles used in airports, indoor and outdoor sweepers.
“Lithium represent the evolution over the next 15 yers: there is not a valid alternative in sight for the near future. All the companies know by now its great potential, and they will gradually switch from lead to lithium” — Marco Righi, Flash Battery CEO.