Customers prefer fast charging batteries
Eternity Industrial Batteries (India) offers the complete range of batteries for material handling equipment applications. Aman Chadha, Managing Director, shares more on the company and the industry scenario.

How do you see the market growth of batteries for material handling equipment?
Although the global market for material handling equipment (MHE) has been projected to increase by more than 5 per cent per year, India has been emerging as a key market for MHE with a spurt in the number of warehouses and container freight stations. This will, in turn, boost the demand for MHE. With 'Make in India' plan putting roots, the MHE industry is hoping to see a good growth in manufacturing and consequently in logistics, warehousing and distribution activities over the next few years. The industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10 per cent to 2020 in India. In the MHE market segment, the customers are shifting to battery-operated equipment due to environmental issues.

What is the range of batteries offered by your company for MHE? What are the ranges under development?
We have the entire range of batteries used for material handling equipment applications such as BS range, DIN range, BCI range, GEL batteries, fast charging batteries etc.

What are the new technologies being introduced in this important component sector? What will be benefits to the end users?
Nowadays, customers are preferring fast charging batteries, which offer benefits such as lesser down time on account of periodic charge and better utilisation of the MHE.

Are the battery specifications derived by the OEMs in terms of capacity, size and weight?
If yes, how do you customise? Could you share some examples? 

The cell design for the batteries is governed by IEC standards (IEC 60254-1 and IEC 60254-2) which defines the cell dimension, capacity etc. The cells are assembled into batteries as per the truck model.
The battery dimension, capacity, voltage and weight will be defined
by the OEMs. Eternity Technologies has its own design team who
designs the battery as per the customer requirement. 

What are environment compliances required for the products and manufacturing facilities? How do you meet these requirements?
Our mother plant being in UAE (we import the cells from there and stock in Bhiwandi), the environmental requirement is governed by the UAE federal law.
This is monitored frequently and report is being submitted to the authorities. Eternity Technologies is also a member of Eurobat (European battery manufacturers association), who publishes and provides guidelines for best environmental practice. Eternity Technologies is also certified for environmental management system -
ISO 14001-2015.

How do you look at the opportunities for MHE batteries? What are the
major challenges?

Major opportunity is for fast charging batteries. Alternate battery technologies such as Li-Ion batteries offer challenge and is a threat to lead-acid battery segment.