28 FEATURES
Batteries and tools
By
Rory Macnamara
Battery-powered products applicable to many industries indicate how the battery has developed from as early as the 18th century .
These early batteries were used for generation in the large equipment space . In 1912 , experimentation in the lithium battery field started . This was because lithium or li-ion have the greatest electrochemical potential and energy-to-weight ratio , with the lowest density .
Commercialisation of these batteries commenced in 1970 , which led to further development in the 80s , creating the rechargeable and more stable version which is now being used in small to larger applications . In the plumbing industry , the utilisation of specialised tools and instrumentation is crucial to ensure efficient and effective system operation .
ROTHENBERGER Tools South Africa ’ s managing director , Adler Teubes , says that when it comes to tools and instrumentation , the company places a strong emphasis on affordable quality . Teubes states that whilst there is a global trend of digitising certain tools to enhance accuracy and convenience , this is happening extremely slowly in South Africa .
MILWAUKEE ’ S product specialist , Werner Koch could not quantify the growth in South Africa , but confirmed that battery pack demands are certainly growing due to load shedding issues . Whilst this is a necessity , the investment in battery operating tools is beneficial .
There are other areas influencing the research and development of analogue tools , including a shift to battery-operated tools and pressing of pipes as opposed to brazing and welding . “ One big shift we have done recently , is on vacuum pumps . Vacuuming the system before linking up water has always been an electronic process . However , we have introduced battery-operated vacuum pumps to provide more flexibility and convenience . These pumps come in different capacities , such as 2.5 and 5 CFM ( Cubic Feet per Minute ) and are suitable for various system sizes such as low-volume and long-period usage . The use of battery-operated pumps is especially beneficial in environments where power supply is uncertain or limited .”
“ We have embraced the concept of standardised battery platforms for their tools and have subscribed to two battery platforms .” Traditionally , each manufacturer of power tools had its own proprietary battery , which led to a fragmentation that inconvenienced consumers . However , those manufacturers have now come together to adopt a standardised battery approach . By doing so , they enable multiple suppliers to use the same battery , eliminating the need for users to invest in multiple battery types . This collaboration streamlines the industry , offers higher quality batteries from specialised manufacturers , and ultimately benefits the end consumer .”
The two battery platforms are Cordless Alliance System ( CAS ) and AMPshare . CAS was established a couple of years ago by Metabo and ROTHENBERGER , with Metabo being the battery manufacturer . ROTHENBERGER is one of 27 manufacturers worldwide that are affiliated with CAS . More recently , the AMPshare system was introduced , with Bosch as the battery manufacturer . ROTHENBERGER is also part of the AMPshare system .
MILWAUKEE has developed their own patented Red Lithium-ion battery technology , and the batteries are only compatible with their cordless range of tools stated Koch .
All photos by © Plumbing Africa Rory Macnamara
Single battery on charge .
Single battery charged .
“ These standardised battery platforms offer significant advantages to end-users . For instance , if a plumbing professional primarily uses Bosch power tools , they can purchase a ROTHENBERGER vacuum pump that is compatible with the Bosch AMPshare battery system . This eliminates the need for extra batteries and saves money in the long run , as batteries are typically one of the priciest components of power tools . By adopting standardised battery platforms , manufacturers can focus on producing high-quality tools while leaving the battery manufacturing to specialised battery manufacturers .”
He notes that this means a plumbing company can now have ten tools with five batteries , whereas in the past those ten tools would have required 15 batteries , for example .
www . plumbingafrica . co . za @ plumbingonline @ plumbingonline @ PlumbingAfricaOnline October 2023 Volume 29 I Number 8