After separating the materials, the plastic
pieces are washed and dried. He adds
that they go through an extrusion process
that then forms small uniform plastic
pellets. “These pellets are then used to
manufacture new battery cases and other
plastic products,” says Strydom.
The lead grids, lead oxide and other
lead parts are processed in a smelting
furnace along with additives and additional
metal components. The smelting
process refines the lead to the desired
composition. The molten lead is poured
into ingot moulds. The ingots are then left
to cool. Once cooled, they are removed
and are ready to be melted to produce
new lead plates and other components for
new batteries.
The battery acid is handled in two
ways. “One is to neutralise the acid with
an alkaline which produces water and
an insoluble salt that may have uses in
other industries. The second method of
treating old battery acid is to process
and convert it into sodium sulphate, an
odourless white powder used in laundry
detergent, glass and textile manufacturing.
Thus, a potentially noxious substance is
transformed into a useful reusable product.”
History of Willard
Birthed in PE, the manufacturing of
Willard batteries locally started in 1954
when production started at the existing
AutoX battery factory. Before the factory
was up and running, the batteries were
imported from America. On land that
stretches an estimated 36 square metres,
latest stats show that they produce
two million batteries per annum. They
manufacture batteries for a wide array of
vehicles. “Today, AutoX employs more
www.equipmentandhire.co.za
TECHNOLOGY
Part of the renovated facilities.
than 600 people, with 400 of them based
in the PE factory. The factory combines
imported top notch technology with
South African ingenuity and knowledge,”
says Strydom.
Other Willard initiatives
The first limited edition battery was the
pink battery, which was released in 2013.
With a pink casing, the batteries formed
part of increasing awareness on breast
cancer. Similarly, a portion of the proceeds
were donated to PinkDrive, a breast
cancer NGO.
Next followed the limited-edition Rhino
battery. It was a camo-coloured, resilient
battery developed to cope with the
harsh conditions faced by game rangers’
vehicles as they help to protect our
rhinos. Then there was the limited-edition
Red battery, highlighting the importance
of donating blood. Strydom shares that
customers responded well to the call
to action.
Glenn Geldenhuis, AutoX CEO says,
“Automotive batteries are one of the most
recyclable products in the world, at Willard,
for every battery produced, one is recycled.
Through the blue battery campaign, we
hope to play our part in opening up new
horizons for creating awareness of our
ocean life.”
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