Tadiran Batteries Ltd. has been awarded a first order from the Ministry of Defense to supply innovative lithium batteries for use in active nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) gas masks of the “Angora” type. The order is valued at NIS 2.6 million.
Tadiran Batteries develops, manufactures and markets non-rechargeable lithium batteries
Tadiran Batteries will provide the MOD with PulsesPlus lithium batteries, which it described as a proven system combined with a breakthrough technology: hybrid layer capacitor (HLC). This newly developed technology is capable of supplying high energy density and high operating voltage under high pulse discharge currents.
The Tadiran PulsesPlus batteries were chosen due to their ability to operate up to three times longer than other batteries and due to their long shelf life which enables the MOD to store them for the same duration as the gas masks. In the case of NBC gas masks, so-called "active" gas masks that use a battery operated air pump, this capability is an important advantage.
The PulsesPlus batteries are capable of operating in a wide temperature range (-40C to +85C) and have a very low self discharge (less than 0.5% per year). The batteries can operate for 10 to 20 years and are able to withstand extreme environmental conditions with maximal safety.
These properties enable the PulsesPlus batteries to be suitable for demanding applications such as active gas masks, medical equipment, utility meters (water, gas and electricity), toll tags, emergency locating and tracking systems and other military applications.
Tadiran Batteries general manager Igal Carmi, said that the market potential for lithium batteries for active gas masks is estimated at approximately $100 million annually in the US and Western Europe.
Saft, a publicly traded French company, owns 100% of Tadiran Batteries.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on Sunday, February 19, 2006