C.S ELLIS CHALLENGE

"We worked with Rotronics to understand just how much battery failure away from base was affecting our overall performance. Saving time and ensuring that delivery times could be continually met was a big driver for the development of a Battery Management Programme."

THE CHALLENGE

C S Ellis (Group) Ltd is a logistic services company, operating from four locations in East Midlands. They provide UK Pallet Distribution, a National Palletised Hazardous Delivery Service, European and International Freight Distribution, Commercial Warehousing, Export Packaging and Workshop and Breakdown service. C.S Ellis has approximately 50 Vehicle technicians every 6 – 8 Weeks.

Whilst C.S Ellis had a robust vehicle servicing process in place, this process didn’t involve the battery – David Beever from C.S Ellis explains ‘’Our vehicle servicing programme ensured that our vehicles were safe, road worthy and free from technical problems but we didn’t really touch the battery. We would check the fluid levels but that was about it. From time to time we were experiencing electrical non-starts (battery failures) away from base, necessitating costly jump start services from a third party provider and risking potential delays to our delivery schedules – this problem was affecting about 10% of our fleet.

Whilst there was a cost associated with delivering a jumpstart away from base, we were more concerned as a business that this problem was wasting time, resources and more importantly had the potential to affect our profit and reputation

We met Rotronics at a trade show and they introduced us to the concept of a Battery Management Programme that would protect against electrical non –starts by managing battery & charging system defects, and more importantly preventing them in the first place. We decided to undertake a trial of the programme in our workshop.’’ So for C.S Ellis the main priority was to prevent battery jump-starts away from base. To do this, batteries need to be kept above 12.4V at all times to protect against the risk of sulphation – the biggest battery killer. To perform efficiently, 24V battery sets also needed to be ‘in balance’ which would also reduce the risk of premature alternator failures.

Whilst C.S Ellis was prepared to undertake the trial they strongly stipulated that it needed to be a complete end to end process that would address these issues quickly, simply and effectively with no disruption service levels.

THE PROCESSS

  • Workshop to test the batteries using the Midtronics EXP1000HD tester when the vehicle arrives into the workshop to establish battery condition. If a faulty battery is detected there is only a need to replace the one battery as the tester has the facility to pair batteries, saving considerable costs to the business.
  • Simply connect up the Midtronics Pro 50/2 charger while the other work is completed, without interruption – the charger will condition, charge and balance the battery set
  • At the end of the vehicle service re-test the batteries and record charge levels on vehicle maintenance record.

 

THE EQUIPMENT

EXP1000HD Battery & Electrical System Tester

  • Designed to perform a ‘’full system test’’ in less than 90 seconds
  • Suitable for 12v & 24v Systems & battery technologies
  • Determines condition of individual batteries
  • Performs a ‘’full’’ Electrical system
  • (Starter & Alternator) test
  • All data stored on SD card for future audit and fleet management analysis

 

ChargeXpress Pro 50/2

  • Twin output, enabling 24v balance charging, or use on two separate 12v systems at the same time
  • Intelligent, safe charging technology suitable for all battery types
  • 5mtr heavy duty ‘’detachable’’ charging cables
  • Spike protection

Since implementing the Battery Management Programme we have seen electrical non-starts reduce significantly. We have had to undertake just one jumpstart away from base in four years, which we think was due to a faulty battery rather than a problem with the process.

For further information on how our products can assist your business contact Rotronics on: 0121 5268185 or email [email protected]

Contact Us Back to Case Studies