At its distribution center in Mexico, Mabe Global, a leading Mexican company in the U.S. white goods sector, switched to BSLBATT lithium-ion batteries to maintain its leadership position.
Mabe Global has seen immediate benefits from switching from a lead-acid to a lithium battery system. "The lithium battery system eliminates time-consuming and costly maintenance and delivers exceptional uptime for a three-shift operation." As Mabe works to convert all current and future material handling equipment to lithium power, fleets will run better, longer, and consume less energy.” — Gustavo, Mabe Global Program Manager.
As one of the world's leading home appliance companies, Mabe Global has nine production plants, 16 brands, 11 commercial offices, and a technology and project center that conducts research and development worldwide. New facilities are also being constructed. Throughout his 16-year tenure at Mabe Global, Gustavo has always prioritized efficiency. At Mabe Global (Mexico), Gustavo oversees more than 2.5 million square feet of warehouses and distribution centers.
For these "wet cell" batteries, the company began experimenting with alternative charging modes about five years ago. Gustavo Israel Sánchez Hernández's team charges lead-acid batteries frequently to maintain them between 40-70% SOC (state of charge) instead of the standard 8 hours of running, 8 hours of charging, and 8 hours of cooling. Gustavo Israel Sánchez Hernández believes this is not enough.
There's still maintenance to do. With an average of 20 minutes a day spent watering and replacing lead-acid batteries, 250 employees operating more than 100 trucks quickly become less efficient. Specifically, lead-acid battery systems lose power and operating efficiency during their short cycle life, resulting in increased operating costs and performance degradation of up to 50%. Increased uptime has become a real issue for companies operating double shifts.
So Gustavo Israel Sánchez Hernández decided to test the long-standing practice of using lead-acid batteries as the power source for the company’s electric forklift fleet.
Gustavo Israel Sánchez Hernández has been paying close attention to lithium-ion technology development. Gustavo asked Rafael, a long-time trading partner of MGS Montacargas Group, to evaluate the options available for the distribution center.
The initial comparison included all available power supply alternatives: fuel cells praised for their safety, lithium-ion batteries praised for their long life, "wet cell" batteries, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) ((propane). Battery type and LPG are both factored into the total cost of ownership calculation.
"The cost analysis made the decision simple and clear," Gustavo said. The estimate is based on 15 years of operation of more than 100 trucks powered by LPG, lead acid, and BSLBATT lithium batteries. It considers leasing, routine maintenance, and fuel/power costs. The lithium-ion battery option is the most attractive: a savings of $2,800 per truck compared to lead-acid batteries and $8,100 in comparison to LP gas. Cumulative savings across all 100-plus Yale forklifts were $4.5 million in comparison to lead-acid and more than $1.3 million compared to liquefied petroleum gas. And that analysis doesn’t even take into account air ventilation structures, battery room expenses, potential dangers of acid leaks, and potential safety costs of LPG tank replacement!
Once the deal is done, it's no problem to install the highest-quality lithium-ion batteries on all existing Class I and III forklifts. Gustavo and MGS Warehouse Manager Rafael developed the battery specifications to facilitate selection from the more than 950 models in the product line of MGS Gold Partner BSL Battery - Industrial.
“Due to the success of our collaboration, BSL Battery - Industrial has become a trusted partner of MGS Montacargas Group, helping us provide efficient and productive solutions to our customers,” said Rafael, Warehouse Manager of MGS Montacargas Group.
Two and a half years after the refurbished distribution center, powered by lithium-ion batteries, began operating, Mabe Global has not noticed any problems with the equipment. Gustavo is pleased with the performance improvements. There’s no acid leakage, no downtime associated with lead-acid batteries, and “the good thing about lithium batteries is there’s no memory effect!” Time-consuming and expensive maintenance is eliminated and they can be charged at random 90% or 100%,” says Gustavo.
BSL Battery - Industrial batteries are ideal for intensive or multi-shift operations. A single battery can replace multiple lead-acid batteries and free up space for replacement batteries, reducing disposal time and costs. Customers can also benefit from quick charging opportunities during breaks and shift changes. For industries such as food, beverage, appliances, and pharmaceuticals where cleaning operations are a must, Yale products equipped with BSL Battery - Industrial batteries produce no gas emissions and no risk of acid leaks. The advantages convince everyone. Even your accounting department
"BSL Battery - Industrial batteries are the most innovative and revolutionary smart battery solutions on the market," said Vivian Chen, BSL Battery - Industrial Americas Sales Manager. "Customers in the Mexican market will benefit from our lithium-ion technology, which has been honed and refined through years of intensive research."
If you're ready to switch to safe and efficient lithium-ion solutions, BSL Battery-Industrial are ready to help. Contact us today for forklift battery prices or a forklift battery replacement quote.
