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 endeavour - 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!

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

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.

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."