Electricity and Control December 2024

ENERGY MANAGEMENT + THE INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENT : PRODUCTS + SERVICES

Lithium-ion battery fire extinguishers now available

SafeQuip, a leading distributor and manufacturer of fire safety solutions, has launched the SANS 1910-2022 approved, Lith-Ex fire extinguisher range, which carries NTA 8133:2021 (KIWA/POOO55865) test approval. This confirms the products’ lithium ion battery fire extinguishing capability.

AVD is a new fire extinguishing agent developed in response to the growing demand for effective lithium-ion battery fire solutions. It consists of naturally occurring vermiculite combined with water and delivers better per formance than traditional agents. AVD is applied as a mist of fine water droplets which contain vermiculite platelets. On contact with the burning fuel, AVD suppresses flames and cools the fuel source, instantly bringing the fire under control. As the mist evap orates, the vermiculite platelets overlap and bind togeth er, forming a barrier film that extinguishes the fire. This barrier serves three critical functions: preventing thermal propagation, isolating the fuel source, and providing an oxygen barrier to prevent re-ignition. SafeQuip’s Lith-Ex fire extinguishers, powered by AVD, are designed for high-risk, limited-size fires and are available in various sizes, ideal for tackling fires in their early stages. SafeQuip and AVD Lith-Ex are committed to raising fire safety standards in South Africa and worldwide and ensuring the effective mitigation of lithium-ion battery fire risks. □ are designed and built in Africa for African needs. They include solar panels (TÜV certified), biomass stoves and 100% locally made stainless steel clean-cooking stove components. Combining local expertise and manufacturing and a fo cus on sustainability, the company provides high-quality cost-effective, products that are making an impact in Afri can markets. EGA Chief Production Officer, Charlie Leaper shares some lessons for other local manufacturers. Invest in first rate equipment; minimise supply chain costs “High-quality production often requires advanced tech nology and equipment, which can be expensive and dif ficult to acquire for local manufacturers. Without modern machinery and tools, it’s hard to meet international quality standards while keeping costs low,” Leaper says. He explains that the EGA business started in Malawi and is now headquartered in South Africa. “We are an African company that understands the local markets, so we know what people are looking for and we focus on delivering that, rather than trying to retrofit products from overseas markets. We also understand how to do business here. We manufacture our products in Africa for Africans, which reduces shipping costs and avoids import tariffs.” By equipping its facilities with custom-made metal forming machines and cutting-edge precision tools, EGA achieves high production efficiency. These tools enable the company to produce the metal parts it requires, con trolling quality and costs through in-house capabilities. The company has also engaged with several education

In today’s tech-driven world, lithium-ion batteries are used to power various devices, such as mobile phones, power tools, and electric bikes. However, these energy-dense batteries present a potential risk for catastrophic lithium-ion battery fires. Conventional fire extinguishing agents like water, powder, and foam often fall short when they are used to deal with lithium-ion battery fires, frequently leading to re ignition. To combat this issue, SafeQuip, in partnership with AVD Lith-Ex, has introduced the groundbreaking Aqueous Vermiculite Dispersion (AVD) solution. With a constrained national power grid and a global move towards greener energy, many South Africans are considering installing solar electricity solutions – for their businesses and at home. However, they are often faced with the tough choice of paying a premium for high-quality products, or opting for more affordable products, and com promising on quality. In both cases, when something goes wrong, recourse to the supplier is often unavailable, as the customer usually deals with a local agent – not the manufacturer that issues the warranty. However, local manufacturer Ener-G-Africa (EGA) has found a way to bridge the gap, providing high-quality, cer tified, renewable energy products at a lower price point, and offering product warranties. EGA’s innovative solutions, supporting energy access,

SafeQuip’s 9L, 6L, 2L and 1L Lith-ex fire extinguishers are bsi KITEMARK™ approved.

Growing manufacturing skills in SA’s renewable energy sector

Training South African workers to manufacture solar panels locally, EGA aims to strengthen the renewable energy sector.

14 Electricity + Control DECEMBER 2024