Manufacturing

How to quickly detect unstable Li-ion batteries in a warehouse

A visual infographic of Brady's battery solution

The solution provides the accuracy and speed needed to isolate unstable batteries before they become a safety risk. (Image source: Brady)

Brady Corporation is offering a new, more cost-efficient solution to quickly detect unstable Li-ion batteries in storage

Able to automatically measure 0,5°C temperature differences per second, the solution provides the accuracy and speed needed to isolate unstable batteries before they become a safety risk.

Brady’s new battery temperature monitoring solution involves 3 components: self-adhesive battery-free UHF RFID labels with embedded temperature sensors, RFID readers with up to 16 antennas, and a customisable RFID software platform. The self-adhesive UHF RFID-embedded labels can be applied inside battery cell boxes for fast temperature change detection. Alternatively, every battery cell can be labelled with Brady’s on-metal, printable UHF RFID labels to enable more elaborate advantages in Li-ion battery supply chains.

Every second, the RFID antennas and readers automatically power all labels and sensors in range to collect temperature readings with 0.5°C accuracy. Every temperature reading, and matching battery storage location, is collected by the RFID software platform. When customisable temperature thresholds are reached, the software platform triggers 3^rd party devices via standard API. With almost continuous, automated and accurate temperature monitoring, warehouse stakeholders can receive early warnings via sms, email or even racking warning lights. They can be guided in time to specific warehouse locations for unstable Li-ion battery isolation. Alternatively, Brady’s software platform API can also trigger an autonomous vehicle to automatically remove an unstable battery.

Click here to see how you can benefit from automated battery temperature monitoring in a single, comprehensive visual

Beady battery infographic explaining the solution

Cost-effective

Battery-free UHF RFID labels with embedded sensors are a more cost-effective battery temperature monitoring solution than powered RFID tags or IR cameras. UHF RFID labels and their temperature sensors receive power wirelessly from RFID antennas and readers in range. They are available at significantly lower costs – up to 5 times less than battery-powered RFID tags – and do not require maintenance.

The number of RFID readers needed to completely cover storage locations in a warehouse heavily depends on warehouse setup, racking height and storage volume per racking compartment. Brady can connect up to 16 antennas to a single RFID reader that provides high accuracy, high speed temperature monitoring for all storage locations in 12 metre wide and 4 metre high racking.

The automated, and almost continuous, nature of the temperature monitoring solution enables Li-ion battery manufacturers and logistics companies to significantly increase safety and reduce risk at advantageous costs.

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Automated inventories

By adding an RFID reader gate at designated warehouse exits, Brady’s solution can also enable automated, real-time warehouse inventories. RFID labelled items are read by Brady’s RFID readers the moment their label enters reader range. When they pass through a designated RFID reader gate, these items can easily be subtracted from the inventory by the RFID software platform. When used in this way, the solution can provide cost-effective battery track & trace inside the warehouse from entry to exit, complete with battery cell box or battery cell temperature fluctuation in between.

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This article is authored by Brady Corporation

Modular training workstation to inspire current and future professionals

Key stakeholders from Bosch Rexrtoh posing for a picture with the new solution.

The flexibility of the solution enables it to accommodate various courses in the hydraulic and pneumatic training environment. (Image source: Bosch Rexroth)

Bosch Rexroth Africa’s Training Department has launched a modular training workstation in order to enhance its training services and address the shortage of hydraulic and pneumatic skills in Africa

Available to customers, training, providers and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges as well as universities, the workstation is designed to be customisable and adaptable – enabling it to meet unique training needs of users.

The workstation aims to provide participants with practical experience with real-world equipment and machinery for industries such as fitting, millwright, diesel, mechanics, earth-moving and mechatronics and can accommodate various courses.

Building a skilled workforce

Bosch Rexroth Africa Training Department is a registered and accredited training provider and this new initiative is aimed at supporting continuous learning and upskilling of crucial skills to be build a more competent workforce.

“By demonstrating the practical benefits and real-world applications of these training workstations, we hope to inspire current and future professionals to embrace continuous learning and development,” remarked Allen van Gert, group training manager.

Starlinger enhances woven plastic packaging capabilities

Starlinger plastic tape fabric used in packaging cement bags

Sacks made of plastic tape fabric for packaging dry bulk goods such as cement provide a lightweight, resistant and sustainable alternative to paper and film sacks. (Image source: Starlinger)

Starlinger & Co Gesellschaft m.b.H., an Austrian machine manufacturing company, has acquired the woven packaging division from German machinery producer, Windmöller & Hölscher (W&H)

The company has also taken over W&H’s Viennese subsidiary company, W&H Machinery GmbH, a specialist in woven packaging. This development is aimed at strengthening its position as a world-leading supplier of machinery for woven plastic packaging and the integration of the related technologies holds significant potential for synergy effects in engineering, services and sales.

“The acquisition of W&H’s woven packaging division means that we can extend our portfolio and offer even more individual solutions to producers of sustainable woven plastic packaging,” remarked Angelika Huemer, CEO and managing partner of Starlinger. “We expect synergy effects and advantages for our customers not only with regard to technology, but also through our well-developed worldwide sales and service network.”

The products of W&H’s woven packaging portfolio will be marketed by Starlinger in the future. With regard to service and spare parts, Starlinger takes over the worldwide support of the customers.

“The decision to part with our woven sack division allows us to focus our resources on growth in the paper and film packaging market,” added Falco Paepenmüller, CEO of W&H Group. “Woven packaging products, on the other hand, fit perfectly into the existing portfolio and infrastructure of Starlinger. When we chose the buyer, it was especially important for us that our customers in the woven packaging market continue to receive excellent and reliable service and support.”

BUA Group to pursue emerging market opportunities with US$200mn finance facility

A picture from a cargo ship looking at another one in a port.

BUA’s portfolio spans sugar and cement production, flour milling, oil processing, real estate development, oil and gas, shipping and ports. (Image source: AFC)

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), a multilateral financial institution, has facilitated a US$200mn corporate finance facility for BUA Group to support its medium-term objectives by unlocking capital to pursue emerging market opportunities

BUA Group is a Nigerian conglomerate spanning food, infrastructure, mining and manufacturing sectors and will utilise the financial support to pursue its expansion plans, thereby boosting its industrial base and Nigeria’s export manufacturing capacity.

“The success of this transaction reflects the strength of AFC’s financial advisory expertise in providing top-tier strategic, corporate finance and technical guidance to leading institutions across Africa,” remarked executive director and head of financial services at AFC, Banji Fehintola. “We are proud to have played a central role for BUA in their continued expansion, driving local manufacturing, job creation and economic prosperity in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.”

Boosting Nigerian self-sufficiency

The financing was approved by Afreximbank in two tranches, the first US$150mn of which has been dispersed. It marks the second successful financial advisory mandate that AFC has closed for the BUA Group.

“With Afreximbank’s support, BUA can increase investments to strengthen industrial capacity and meet regional demand,” remarked Abdul Samad Rabiu, CFR, CON, chairman of BUA. “Our goal is sustainable growth that boosts Nigeria’s self-sufficiency and Africa’s global trade presence, creating jobs and building economic resilience.”

Kanayo Awani, executive vice president, Intra Africa Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, added, “We are delighted at this partnership, which promises to deliver significant impact through job creation, import substitution, and export diversification – thereby boosting Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).”

ALPLA enters South African PET recycling market

A picture from the inside of the ALPLA facility with guests being shown around on golf buggies.

The ALPLArecycling division will produce up to 35,000 tonnes of rPET per year. (Image source: ALPLA)

ALPLA, an international plastics manufacturer and recycler, has cut the red tape on its new state-of-the-art recycling plant in South Africa, marking its entry into the country’s PET recycling market

The new plant is located in KwaZulu-Natal and has been completed following an investment of around US$60mn and approximately 18 months of construction.

Once all processes have been qualified and the flakes and pellets have been approved by the customer, the facility will begin production in 2025 and will help ALPLA to produce up to 35,000 tonnes of recycled PET (rPET) flakes and food-sake rPET pellets annually in the country. Located on a 90,000 sq m site, the plant will increase the supply of rPET in the national market.

According to Dietmar Marin, managing director of ALPLA recycling, country’s beverage industry will benefit from this by receiving high-quality material and be able to meet the legal requirements. Currently, South Africa’s EPR regulation requires PET drinks bottles to contain 10% recycled material since 2022, and this will double to 20% by 2026.

The recycling plant is designed to increase the proportion of pellets and can accommodate a second extrusion line to promote the circular economy in South Africa. An additional 30,000 sq m of space is available at the site for further expansion. ALPLA will process the high-quality recycled material into PET preforms for the production of drinks bottles at the Lanseria plant, which opened in 2022.

Safe, affordable and sustainable packaging

The opening of the new facility was market by a ceremony with around 180 guests in attendance. This guest list included representatives from the South African Ministries of Trade, Industry and Competition and Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, as well as those from the province of KwaZulu-Natal, the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, the iLembe District Municipality, and Austria’s Ambassador Romana Königsbrun.

Together, the guests celebrated the opening of the state-of-the-art plant that will process rPET produced at the plant in Lanseria back into safe, affordable and sustainable packaging.

“South Africa is a strategically important market for us and one in which we want to continue to grow,” commented ALPLA CEO Philipp Lehner. “Together with our customers and partners, our aim is to provide safe, affordable and sustainable packaging solutions to our customers and to continue improving standards of living. With our investments in Ballito and before that in Lanseria, we have laid the foundation for a successful future.”

Sihle Ngcamu, CEO of Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal, added, “ALPLA’s involvement does not only accelerate the industrialisation of iLembe District Municipality, but ensures investing in projects that support UN Sustainable Development Goals, attracting other companies along the value chain and creating several thousand jobs in the collection infrastructure.”