NorthStar Wins Environmental Award

The Missouri Water Environment Association presented NorthStar Battery with the Gold Industrial Wastewater Pretreatment Compliance Award at MWEA's Annual meeting held March 24-27, 2013. Gold Award winners must be in complete compliance with all wastewater discharge and reporting requirements, must have an industrial wastewater treatment process or pollution prevention program, and must have a history of good relations with the nominating city or sewer district. 

The Missouri Water Environmental Award Association is dedicated to preserving, protecting, and improving the quality of Missouri's water environment. The Association advance’s the science of water quality, educates, disseminates technical information, increases public understanding and promotes sound environmental policy. MWEA represents a diverse membership of water environment professionals from the public and private sectors.

NorthStar will be at SEMA 2013

The NorthStar will have a booth at the famous SEMA Show, held in Las Vegas 3-5 November. The SEMA Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world. It draws the industry’s brightest minds and hottest products to one place. In addition, the SEMA Show provides attendees with educational seminars, product demonstrations, special events, networking opportunities and more.

We'll post more details closer to the show. See you in Vegas!

NorthStar onboard for 500mph attempt

The world’s fastest automobile, The Turbinator, which currently holds the land speed record at 470 mph, will soon attempt to break the 500 mph barrier later this year. But to do it they will need some serious battery power - that's where NorthStar Battery come in.

Our NSB AGM 31M is one of the only batteries in the world that can deliver the ultra high performance that this attempt requires.

Rick Vesco and his Vesco Racing Team have built a custom 4400 horsepower @ 16500 rpm internal combustion engine, with a 4-wheel-drive system. NorthStar Battery wishes them a fast and safe run out there!

NorthStar Wins Supplier of the Year Award

NorthStar was recently named as the the Battery Alliance Members’ Choice ‘Supplier of the Year’. Although we have only been servicing the BAI Member network for the past 3 years, we were able to earn this prestigious award by beating out highly respected companies such as JCI, Ford Motorcraft, Exide and Midtronics.

There is no greater recognition than a Members’ Choice Award as it was not decided by a single person or a small group, it was based on the votes of the entire BAI membership.

This award was not just earned by the sales team, this award was due to the combined efforts of every member of  the SLI team: the accuracy in order management of our customer service team, the engineering that goes into every battery, our factory building the highest quality products, the quality team ensuring that every battery that leaves the factory is worthy of the NorthStar brand, the shipping team packaging the product so well that it arrives in pristine condition at the customer’s location and our warranty team who our customers have not had to get to know on a first name basis, because we have had a minimal number of failures.

Even more gratifying was the fact that our CEO, Hans Lidén, was in the audience when we received this top honor.

For the past 3 years so many have worked so diligently to build the SLI platform and this award demonstrates that the hard work has been appreciated by the customers for whom they are built.

Congratulations - let’s win it again next year!
 

NorthStar Proud Silver Sponsor of Intelec 2013

Mark it in your calendars: October 13-17 is the Intelec 2013 exhibition in Hamburg, Germany. This is the 35th year of the International Telecommunication Energy Conference (Intelec) which is an impoirtant event for the telecoms industry.

This year NorthStar is a proud Silver Sponsor. We will be in booth 61 - see you there!

Bassmaster Elite Rick Morris on fire thanks to NorthStar Battery

After 20 years of competing in Bassmaster tournaments, Rick Morris is still in great form thanks to the NorthStar AGM 31M Battery onboard his boat. After four events of the 2013 season Rick is 15th on the leaderboard, competing against 100 of the world’s best fishermen.

“NorthStar Battery has made a huge difference for me,” he says. “This is my second season using this battery and it’s just the best. My style of fishing is quite aggressive, I work hard out there, so I need a battery that I can rely on."

"At the last event we had to travel about an hour and a half across salt water to get to the fresh water, and then once I got there I probably covered 5 miles of beach, fishing as fast as I could. This battery helps me cover a lot of water, and then do it again the next day.”

Rick has been catching some big fish this season, like the 9 lbs 11 oz monster he caught at the Sabine River Challenge in Orange, Texas. But conditions on the water can often make it difficult.

“In Texas I was fishing off a hump and it was very windy. I had to use 3/4 throttle just to hold my position on the water. I was there for quite a while, and without a NorthStar Battery I couldn’t have done that.”

Rick has a tough season ahead of him, but thanks to NorthStar Battery he will be one to beat.

NorthStar powers record-breaking voyage from New York to San Francisco

Italian sailing veteran Giovanni Soldini has smashed the record for fastest voyage between New York and San Francisco, via Cape Horn, with the help of NorthStar Battery. Soldini made the journey of 13,225 miles (21,332 km) in only 47 days, 42 minutes and 29 seconds. The previous record was 57 days, 3 hours and 3 minutes, set in 1998 by Frenchman Yves Parlier.

His boat, the Maserati, carried six NorthStar NSB 100FT batteries to run the vital power systems and navigation equipment onboard. The batteries were supplied to Soldini through NorthStar’s Italian distributor, HESA. Soldini says he chose NorthStar batteries because they deliver exactly what he needs.

“I chose NorthStar Batteries for their characteristics of high cycling and superior fast recharge performance. Completely sealed and possible to install in any position without any acid leakage, these batteries proved to be reliable even in extreme temperatures and are perfect for sailing needs.”

Soldini says one major benefit of using NorthStar batteries was the fuel savings. “The energy issue has always been important to me, above all on the occasion of this very challenging record. The contribution of NorthStar batteries provided by HESA was decisive because of their fast recharge by solar panels and allowed us to halve fuel consumption. We carried only 250 liters of fuel instead of 500. Also, thanks to these batteries, during sunny days we have been completely independent.”

But rather than stopping to rest and enjoy his amazing achievement, Soldini is planning his next record attempt – sailing from San Francisco to Hawaii. Thanks to NorthStar Battery, he is bound to succeed again.

NorthStar and Derek West secure 3 top ten finishes

NorthStar Ultra High Performance Batteries have helped Derek West and the Jimmys Off-Road Racing team to three top ten finishes in the past few weeks.

Derek fought hard for a first place finish at the Widia Rausch Creek Qualifier. On the final lap he got stuck while trying to pass some lap traffic, getting caught against a tree, and had to winch himself out to make it across the finish line in time.

The team also finished 6th at King of the Hammers, one of the toughest off-road racing events in the world.

How tough is it? Of the 120 teams that entered the 14-hour endurance test, less than 25 managed to finish. Held in Johnson Valley California, competitors raced over 184-miles of open desert and jagged rocks – a brutal environment for vehicles and batteries. Derek’s custom buggy uses a NSB AGM34-78 Battery, and he says the reliability of NorthStar is key to his success.

“We’ve been real happy with our NorthStar, it’s been absolutely great,” he says. “The battery is a pretty important part on a racecar like I have. I run over 20 devices that all require power, so the battery is the support system for everything. If I make a mistake and crash or rollover, I rely on the winch to get us out. There’re times where it’s a really rough ride. The battery has to be well made otherwise it would just get beat apart. A NorthStar battery can handle anything.”

But there was not time to rest after the King of Hammers – two weeks later Derek was back behind the wheel at the Hog Wild Shootout in Arizona. Even after the punishment sustained at King of the Hammers, and recovering from an illness, Derek came from behind to finish 2nd out of 35 competitors, missing out on 1st place by less than a second. Derek has a long race season ahead of him, but thanks to NorthStar Battery he will be one to beat.

NorthStar automotive batteries outperform the competition in ‘torture tests’

NorthStar Ultra High Performance Batteries proved to be the best of the best after outperforming the competition through two brutal ‘torture tests’. The ‘Winch’ and ‘Boombox’ tests were conducted by JP Magazine for their March 2013 issue, using Group 34 size batteries from all of the top manufacturers.

In the ‘Winch’ test, the NorthStar G34M Battery pulled a jeep weighing 6,500 lbs a distance of 471 ft. That’s almost 100 ft further than the closest competitor battery, made by Odyssey, which could only manage 382 ft. The Die Hard Platinum managed 352 ft and the Optima Yellow 307 ft. In the ‘Boombox’ test, the NorthStar Battery had enough power to run a custom-made 40 amp sound and lighting system for an impressive 95 minutes. Again, the Odyssey could only last 92 min, the Optima 84 min and the Die Hard Platinum 81 min.

So if you need to winch yourself out of trouble or run a killer sound system, then NorthStar is clearly the best choice.

NorthStar launches app for iPhone

NorthStar has recently released an iPhone app packed with tools and features. Download the NorthStar Battery App to get all the latest news and information about premium NorthStar Batteries and Site Solutions. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE APP.

You can use the NorthStar Battery App to:

• Find the ideal product with our product selection tools.
• Compare the performance of our battery with standard batteries.
• Find the NorthStar reseller closest to you.
• Contact NorthStar using our simple contact form.
• Download datasheets and zoom in on the data you need.
• Browse www.northstarbattery.com with the built-in browser.

Coming soon: more features, more products, ipad support.

Visit NorthStar at Middle East Electricity 2013

NorthStar will have a booth at the Middle East Electricity show 2013, held February 17-19 in Dubai. ME Electricity is where international companies showcase their products and services for the power, lighting, renewable and nuclear sectors.

The show will highlight the efficiency of NorthStar's batteries and site solutions, particluarly in solar or off grid applications, even in high temperature environments. Stay tuned for more information closer to the event. Click here to visit the ME Electricity website.

See you in Dubai!

NorthStar unveils enhanced telecom battery: the NSB Blue + Battery^®

NorthStar has launched an enhanced battery for demanding telecom applications: the NSB Blue + Battery. To make the Blue + NorthStar took the proven performance of Blue Star Technology and modified the electrochemistry to deliver more power, high cycling and fast recharge. This makes the Blue + ideal for unstable grid and off gird applications.

“The original Blue Battery has performed remarkably well for our customers, and the new Blue + is a big improvement,” says NorthStar CTO Frank Fleming. “Most of the world’s telecom sites don’t have a reliable power supply, which is bad news for other batteries. But the Blue + thrives in this situation, because if the enhanced capacity and cyclic performance. For instance, our customers can save a lot of fuel when they use the Blue + in a hybrid genset application.”

The Blue + has an impressive operating temperature range of -40°F (-40°C) to 150°F (65°C), because of its innovative design and high modulus plastic casing. The Blue + is available in four capacities: 92 Ah, 100 Ah, 170 Ah and 400 Ah.

NorthStar opens new support center for Middle East and Africa

NorthStar has strengthened its presence in the Middle East and Africa by opening a support center in Dubai. The Dubai center offers commercial, logistics and technical support to its clients and partners in the region, as well as extensive training courses in extending battery life, energy saving and project dimensioning.

Thierry Tardivent, General Manager for Middle East and Africa, says NorthStar is committed to delivering a high standard of service to match its high quality products.

“Middle East and Africa are very demanding markets with harsh environments where customers often spend a lot of money on battery replacement or cooling energy,” he says.

"We want more people to understand why it is worth using premium NorthStar batteries and solutions for their applications, to achieve longer life and save on OPEX."

NorthStar powers Puma boat in Volvo Ocean Race

NorthStar has once again provided its innovative battery power to the Puma boat in the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012. This is the second season running that Puma has relied on NorthStar batteries to power the 70-foot race yacht named Mar Mostro. The Volvo Ocean Race is an exceptional test of sailing prowess and human endeavor - the perfect environment for NorthStar batteries. Six teams will race 39,000 miles around the world, stopping in 10 cities in just nine month.

According to legend, the Volvo Ocean Race started over a beer in a Portsmouth pub. In 1969 Robin Knox-Johnston won The Sunday Times Golden Globe Race and history was born on two fronts. He had not only become the first man to complete a single-handed non-stop circumnavigation of the planet, but he had also put an idea in the minds of two men that would ultimately change the face of offshore yachting. Guy Pearce and Anthony Churchill were fascinated by Knox-Johnston’s feat, and were convinced of the potential of a crewed race following the old square rigger routes around the world.

Nothing of its kind existed at the time and skippers were drawn in by the promise of such an adventure. Finding a sponsor and an organising club proved difficult until Churchill and Pearce took their plan to the Royal Naval Sailing Association, who they wanted to run the race. Something clicked and, so the story goes, in 1971 in a smoky pub in Portsmouth Colonel Bill Whitbread, of the brewing family, and Admiral Otto Steiner, of the Royal Naval Sailing Association, met to enjoy a beer and discuss the proposal. The first race would be held in 1973.

You can follow the team on their website www.puma.com/sailing or the race website www.volvooceanrace.com. Good luck!

New NorthStar battery plant sets high environmental standards in India 

A brand new battery manufacturing plant has opened in Sinnar, India, to produce NorthStar’s innovative lead-acid batteries for domestic and export markets. The plant will set a new benchmark for environmental standards in India. Advanced wastewater and recycling systems will protect the environment, while strict testing and hygiene regulations protect employees and their families.

The new plant will be operated by Artheon Battery Company, a joint venture between NorthStar and Artheon Energy Group. The joint venture combines the industry-leading manufacturing and technology of NorthStar, with the distribution and service capabilities of Artheon.

NorthStar has been committed to reducing the environmental impact of its products since the company was founded in 2000. NorthStar’s state-of-the-art facilities in the US are built and run to meet the toughest possible environmental requirements, to prevent lead poisoning of the surrounding air, ground and water. All NorthStar products have a longer lifespan and are highly recyclable, which dramatically reduces waste.

Production has already started on a range of 2V, 6V and 12V batteries. The 9,000 sq m (97,000 sq ft) plant has a production capacity of 2.5 million batteries per year, and full productivity will be needed to meet demand in India and nearby markets. Revenue for the first year alone is estimated to be US$20m.

Exide adds premium NorthStar engine start batteries to product line

Exide Technologies announced that it has expanded its product offering to include NorthStar Ultra High Performance AGM batteries, made with Pure Lead Technology, for the automotive, marine/RV, heavy duty trucking and equipment, enthusiast and first responder market segments. 

This partnership is part of Exide’s overall strategy of becoming a leader in AGM technology. The relationship with NorthStar is intended to expand the company’s existing transportation battery portfolio and deliver a number of unique design features specifically targeted to high-performance vehicles operating in demanding conditions. 

“This collaboration supports Exide’s position as a leading global provider of innovative products and services across segments, customers, and technologies,” said Paul Hirt, President, Exide Americas. “Offering an extensive lineup of AGM product choices under one distribution network is a way to extend product coverage across a broad range of applications and consumer needs.”  

The NorthStar Ultra High-Performance AGM flat plate battery - distributed by Exide - features 99.99% Pure Lead Technology for superior performance in demanding applications such as high performance automotive vehicles, heavy duty/commercial and marine applications, and first responders. These batteries are also designed to exceed conventional battery life expectancies thereby reducing the overall cost of ownership. The non-spillable advanced AGM construction of NorthStar batteries allows for orientation on the battery’s side, while high compression cell insertion creates better cycling characteristics and vibration resistance.

You can find us on the Exide website here: www.exide.com

The next generation has arrived - the SiteStar™ HiCap 2-2 

The new SiteStar™ HiCap 2-2 is the first outdoor cabinet in the telecom industry to feature two separate climate zones with individual compressor systems: one for batteries and one for DC power systems or other electronics. The separate climate zones ensure optimal operating temperatures for sensitive electronic equipment, even in high ambient temperatures, without wasting energy on unnecessary cooling.

The SiteStar™ HiCap 2-2 is the latest breakthrough from NorthStar, an industry leader in producing high-performance batteries and site solutions. The new cabinet was designed to extend the life of batteries and valuable electronics, while saving energy and lowering the total cost of ownership. SiteStar™ Technology makes this possible – a combination of advanced components, design innovations, and state-of-the-art manufacturing processes, which include:

• High efficiency active compressors for exceptional battery cooling and power saving
• Swedish design and automated robotic manufacturing to ensure reliability, low weight and easy installation
• Dust and corrosion proof design that lowers maintenance costs
• Innovative insulation and build materials to ensure optimal battery operating conditions inside the cabinets, no matter the outside temperature
• Compatible and verified with most standard DC power systems

NorthStar powers off-grid US home

NorthStar batteries provide the storage power for an ambitious solar and wind powered home in Springfield, Missouri, called Bruner Ridge. The home uses 48 photovoltaic solar panels, which will provide almost 11 Kw of power, and a 4 Kw vertical axis wind turbine. To store all of this power, 80 NSB170 Blue Batteries mounted in 4 NorthStar NSR0001 racks have been installed. NorthStar will be collecting data from these batteries for future development.

Jeff Dawidowski and his wife Terri are the masterminds behind Bruner Ridge. Jeff says that NorthStar batteries are the perfect choice for projects such as this. “We chose NorthStar Battery because the reputation of the company and the quality of the battery. The NSB Blue Battery was designed for off-grid uses and being an off-grid home we need batteries we could depend on for years to come.”

The NSB Blue Battery™ can recharge five times faster and can handle more than three times as many cycles than standard lead-acid batteries, thanks to its PSOC compatibility. This not only ensures a more reliable power supply, but also reduces the cost of operation. Jeff says he has tried to use building materials sourced locally, such as reclaimed wood and limestone. A lot of the materials Jeff had to reclaim with his own hands, but he says it has been worth the effort.

“The past year has been an exciting time building our home. When we started to design the home we wanted to reduce our carbon footprint and only use renewable energy. By using solar panels and a wind turbine we can create 100% of our own power and store it in our NorthStar Battery bank. We couldn’t be more pleased with the results already.”

Bruner Ridge has 2,337 sq ft (217 sq m) of living area, 523 sq ft (48 sq m) of loft space above the garage, and a 760 sq ft (70 sq m) basement. That's a lot of space to heat and power, but luckily NorthStar Batteries are up to the challenge. To find out more about the project visit www.brunerridge.com.

E-Plus, NSN build Germany’s first off-grid base station using SiteStar™ cabinets 

E-Plus, a leading mobile service provider in Germany, has become the first to operate a base station without using any German grid electricity. Instead, the site relies on a combination of solar and wind power, supported by fuel cell and deep cycle battery technology. Nokia Siemens Networks’ end-to-end Energy Solutions business set up the ‘green’ base station site.

"With this innovative energy concept, we show how mobile phone transmission sites can become carbon neutral," said Rafal Markiewicz, chief technology officer of E-Plus Group. "This new transmission plant is part of our sustainability strategy. For us, building the first green base station site of this type is an important achievement and underlines our claim to operate the most efficient network in Germany."