In the current financial climate most companies are looking to defer significant capital expenditure until the economy stabilises and business returns to normal. However, the challenge is to tighten the purse strings without impacting operational effectiveness. It is well known in the materials handling industry that the iBOS battery management system helps reduce the cost of operating electric forklifts by;

1. Guaranteeing batteries last longer.


2. Delivering longer average truck run times over the battery life time.


3. Reduces capital spend by pushing the battery budget further.

iBOS is the global market leader in battery management technology. In large distribution centres the ROI makes it a must have, not a should have. The cost per battery in smaller applications has, until now, meant it is not such a simple decision. The new iBOSbasic brings battery management and its' money saving benefits to smaller fleets for a minimal outlay.

Contact Philadelphia Scientific www.phlsci.com/contact/3 now and ask about our iBOS Basic launch offer!

Europe and Middle East: David Smith t. + 44 (0) 1204 467 777 david.smith@ps-europe.net
Asia Pacific: Chris Parkinson t. + 61 (0) 2 8004 2447 chris@phlsci.com.au

Read on for more about the iBOS basic.

Real measurable savings

• Improved truck run time - After 6 months of iBOS battery management, most sites benefit from 15% longer average truck run times. Over an hour of extra run time on most sites with the original batteries.




• Improved battery Availability - After 6 months of correct battery rotation, most sites achieve 15% more of available batteries.




• Reduced battery temperatures - Cooler batteries which last longer.


• Reduced battery maintenance - Less cycles per day means less watering required and repairs.


• Fast return on investment - The average iBOSbasic system costs less than 5% of the cost of the assets it is managing. By increasing average performance of the batteries and helping them last longer, the system more than pays for itself. In addition, customers often save 3 to 4 times the cost of the iBOSbasic system by having the information to reduce future battery purchases.

The Basics about the iBOSbasic
iBOS stands for Intelligent Battery Organising System. When a fork truck driver enters a battery room to get a replacement battery or truck, how does he know which one to take? Without guidance, he will take the most convenient one, it's human nature. Over time, this leads to uneven usage, with expensive consequences: diminished battery capacity, uneven wear and tear, and premature failure. Other assets are also wasted because the less convenient batteries or trucks go unused.


The iBOSbasic simply directs the operator to the next battery or truck ensuring perfect asset rotation and even utilisation. If the operator selects the correct battery, a positive chirp sound is made. If the operator ignores the system and takes the wrong battery, there is an audible alarm that sounds.


Turn any charger into an intelligent charger
The iBOS "Sentinel" is an intelligent electronic device which is connected to a charger in order to communicate the status of the battery to the rest of the system. It can be mounted on any type of conventional or high frequency charger.
The Sentinel is in constant communication with the iBOSbasic controller. One Sentinel is required for each charger and is individually hard wired to the controller. The Sentinel is very easily connected to the charger without any tools. RCA plug connections connect the data cable from the Sentinel to the controller. The ibos basic is a simple as a home stereo to install.

The all-in-one controller will monitor up to 31 chargers

The iBOSbasic Controller is the brains of the system. All the functions are integrated in to a single compact enclosure; the central processing unit, a colour touch screen display, misspick alarm and inputs for the chargers.

Each Controller can monitor up to 31 chargers for one, specific, group, or 'pools' of the batteries. For more pools just add Controllers.
The Controller communicates with all of the sentinels and creates a queue of available batteries prioritising those which have been cooling the longest after charging. This method is far superior to antiquated systems which use first in/first out (FiFo) principals. To illustrate this point consider a partially discharged battery and a deeply discharged battery connected to charge at the same time. The iBOSbasic would recognise that the deeply discharged battery was taking longer to charge and would wait until charging had completed before putting it to the queue. This means that each battery gets the longest possible cooling time. This feature is crucial in extending the life expectancy as the average core temperature of the batteries is kept as low as possible. High temperature is the leading factor in reducing the life expectancy of batteries. By reducing the battery temperatures, batteries will last longer.

A black number on a bright green background is illuminated on the Controller display. This number corresponds to the charger which has the best battery or truck to select next. If there are no batteries or trucks available, then the display turns red and no number is displayed. In depth information about the operation of the site is available through via this touch screen with no additional requirements for PC software or further hardware.

System languages include English, French, German, Dutch, Italian and Spanish.


What do you need to know about your battery fleet operation?

Scroll through the pages of the iBOS Basic Controller display for all the information a fleet manager will need to control and optimize their operation.

• Reserve 24hr: The number of available batteries in the pool over the previous 24 hours showing any instances of exceptionally low or high battery availability.


• Available Now: An instant view showing the total number of batteries presently available.


• Lifetime Selections / Misspicks - This screen displays the total number of batteries selected from the pool since the system was installed along with the percentage of those selections which were correct.


• Misspicks 7 Days - This screen is identical to the Misspicks lifetime screen above, except it only displays the results for the previous 7 days.

Read and React

Anything that can be done to make forklift operator's job simpler is good. With an iBOSbasic no more guessing which battery is ready, no searching for little green lights, no more chalk boards or 'charged' signs on batteries. Just read the number on the display and go to that charger.....it's that simple.

By making the selection process clear and easy, the operators rarely select the incorrect battery. Without management, convenient assets are often used 4 times more often than the less convenient ones. Tests prove that battery usage is uniform after iBOSbasic has been installed.

But why do I need to change my chargers?

You don't. Most companies have charging equipment that is in full working order. Although the latest chargers can offer some improvements in charging efficiency, the cost of replacing this equipment is often greater than the savings that will be achieved. Managing the existing equipment is a more effective method of reducing capital spend and saving energy. The iBOSbasic can be fitted on to any known charger which means you can manage the chargers you presently own. Any new chargers that are purchased for either expansion or replacement can be seamlessly integrated in to the system.
 
Conclusion

While the world economy is in turmoil, a small investment in battery management is a wise decision. Managing previously unmanaged batteries can help your existing batteries last as long as possible before having to invest in replacements. Operators will be more efficient as increased truck run times will help them spend more time working and less time changing batteries. Secondary benefits including reduced battery maintenance and reduced wear and tear are an additional bonus. When business stabilises and you are ready to purchase new equipment, you need trustworthy information to help identify how many batteries are actually required to power the site.

The iBOSbasic can deliver all of these benefits, previously only available to large scale enterprises, to smaller fleet users. With its low price and clever design for simple self installation there couldn't be a better time to get organised!

More information visit: www.phlsci.com/product/1/33
Europe and Middle East: David Smith t. + 44 (0) 1204 467 777 david.smith@ps-europe.net
Asia Pacific: Chris Parkinson t. + 61 (0) 2 8004 2447 chris@phlsci.com.au