AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV), a leading supplier of industrial fast and opportunity charging solutions for electric forklifts, at ProMat 2017 (booth number S-361) launched a patent-pending advanced version of its ConnectRx™ for its PosiCharge ProCore™ line of electric forklift chargers for the materials handling industry.
According to the NIST White Paper ‘Towards Improved Forklift Safety’, more than 100,000 forklift accidents occur every year in the US. The study also reported that one in six US workplace deaths are caused by forklift accidents. Solutions that enhance forklift safety can positively impact workplace productivity and profitability.
“Last year AeroVironment launched ProCore with a focus on performance,” said Ken Karklin, general manager and vice-president of AeroVironment’s Efficient Energy Systems business segment. “With its intelligent charging algorithm, companion app for easy configuration, and battery universal design, our goal for ProCore is to improve the performance of our customers’ operations.”
“Adding the advanced ConnectRx to ProCore’s already impressive safety features, such as anti-arc connectors, thermal management and automatic battery watering, makes ProCore a differentiated solution for performance and safety-focused operations,” Karklin added.
The advanced ConnectRx, a standard feature on PosiCharge ProCore, is a sophisticated cable connector health monitoring technology designed to detect connector abnormalities during charging sessions. It immediately alerts users to possible charger and battery output problems that could potentially result in damage to the forklifts or facilities and injuries to employees.
In addition to the advanced ConnectRx, PosiCharge ProCore’s anti-arc disconnect feature protects the operator and minimises wear on the connectors. ProCore’s advanced charge algorithm manages voltage and battery electrolyte temperatures in real time and actively compensates for superior battery-gassing control. The low overcharge and accurate current control featured in ProCore contributes to extended battery life and increased safety.
The new, advanced ConnectRx will be available beginning in spring 2017 as a standard feature on the PosiCharge ProCore series. ProMat 2017 takes place at McCormick Place in Chicago, 3-6 April.