Summary
A Dutch SME has developed several battery energy systems for cart manufactures in the MedTech. The batteries are specifically designed for Hospital Workflow and therefore outperform OEM batteries for the same application. The company is looking for a commercial agency agreement in Germany with an agent who has a network in the MedTech industry.
Description
Founded in 2015 this Dutch based SME develops and manufactures high end battery systems. Where OEM’s often use batteries or energy systems that are not meeting the required level of reliability, information, power or safety, the client can realize solutions that resolve these issues.
Client is specialized in the medical sector where mobile applications are used around the clock in patient care. For example, power solutions for:
- mobile carts
- vital sign monitors
- oxygen supply
- pathology
- monitoring equipment
- neonatal care units
- mobile pacemaker control
- ambulance equipment.
Client has developed two solutions: hot swap batteries and modular block batteries. Both solutions are designed so that a wide range of capacities are possible and can be matched to the customers application and workflow needs.
The Hot Swap battery range encompasses 120, 200 and 240Wh batteries with up to 4 mounted on an application. The hot swap is supported by accurate battery data presentation allowing controlled non-stop power.
The Modular block solution takes 240Wh plug -in modules and allows the customer to achieve high-capacity solutions. The modules feed DC/DC PCBs that combine outputs and enable the system to handle high loads. New DC/AC PCB developments will allow load capability up to 2000W.
Both solutions are comparatively compact and light weight and allow a high degree of design flexibility due to the focus on modularity and plug and play. Both solutions comply to IEC 60601-1 based on IEC 62133 battery safety testing by Notified Bodies and are currently undergoing the latest IEC 62133:2:2020 edition testing that is recognised by UL.
Key technical benefits are the strong emphasis on achieving optimised battery life which involves implementation of matching, balancing, voltage tunnelling, charge rate control etc using state of the art microprocessors and in-house programming.
Smart battery packs use coulomb counting and impedance tracking to provide a wealth of data and accurate State of Charge and Remaining Runtime information for users.
The company has international patents on for example State of Health information available on the battery itself. This tells the user how much the battery capacity has declined over time and is the basis for a strong and clear performance warranty strategy. This is key information. The State of Health of a Battery is the main predictor of rising Internal resistance and the related increased reliability and runtime issues.
Client has focussed on the initial market demand: reliability.
To emphasize this, the client offers the strongest performance guarantee in the market, accurate battery status data, and a flexible and modular system that can be adapt to the client workflow needs.
With local engineering for R&D, prototyping and project implementation, backed by a local supply chain and production facility, the company is well placed to support a project from design through to production.
New solutions (Electronics & Housing designs) have been developed to meet the customer requirement.
The Client now wants to expand further internationally via a commercial agent agreement to get in touch with end users (hospitals), mobile cart manufacturers, and in particular MedTech companies looking to optimise their product battery systems and implement an improved solution. For now, there focus is Germany and Belgium.
The agent would ideally discuss current power solutions with networked MedTech companies to ascertain their satisfaction with these solutions – typically from the far east – in terms of reliability, safety, information, and performance and if they identify a need to improve, make introductions. The expectation is that the SMEs are the ideal profile, companies with specialist knowledge, but reliant on external battery suppliers.
Client can provide the partner with product information, training, engineering, after sales, manufacturing capacity and marketing materials.