Oorja Protonics Inc has received an initial order from Super Store Industries Inc (SSI) to install 35-50 OorjaPac model H systems on battery-powered walkie materials handling equipment in the freezer unit at the dairy product processor's Lathrop, California facility.

Yale and Barrett are among the brands of Class 3 equipment in use.

Sanjiv Malhotra, founder, chief executive officer and president of Fremont-based Oorja Protonics, says: "We started in the freezer section, but we have an agreement to convert all their manufacturing and distribution facilities in the next 12-18 months. We are making great strides in commercialisation" of OorjaPac units.

Oorja is shipping the first units to the Lathrop site in early May.

An OorjaPac continuously keeps a battery 30% to 80% charged without surge loading or any need to switch batteries. The system operates on direct liquid methanol fuel and emits clean water and a minimal amount of carbon dioxide.

Pete Blasquez, vice president of warehousing and transportation with Stockton, California-based SSI, says in a statement: "Our evaluation of the OorjaPac as an on-board battery charger for our materials handling fleet has impressed us" for its productivity, safety and environmental benefits and cost savings.

SSI operates about 1,500 materials handling units in four California manufacturing and retail-food distribution locations, Stockton, Lathrop, Fairfield and Turlock.

SSI, which ordered its first OorjaPacs on April 21, markets under several brand names and operates as a subsidiary of Raley's Family of Fine Stores and Save Mart Supermarkets. Products include milk, yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese, packaged drinking water, juices, ice creams, fruit concentrates and sherbets.

Oorja Protonics was founded in 2004, employs 60 people and occupies more than 40,000 square feet (3,600 sqm). "In our transition to commercialising the OorjaPac in the food and dairy industry, we see this relationship with SSI as a very strong one," Malhotra says.