Wine Companies "Press More" Out of Their Forklifts with Lithium-Ion Batteries

Here’s how lithium-ion batteries meet the needs of a diverse array of wine producers.

July 16, 2021

romaset

Lithium-ion battery technology pairs well with the wine industry, like a good Cabernet with a lamb chop.

The wine business shifts with high and low seasons, which creates a challenge best met with effective equipment utilization. Lithium-ion forklift batteries are the optimal choice to power equipment used with seasonal fluctuations and offer cost-effective benefits to warehouses of all sizes.

In the wine industry, the production facility also must meet the highest standards of hygiene. A lithium-ion electric forklift battery produces zero pollutants and is a reliable and clean technology, a necessary feature for operations in the food and beverage industry.

Those in the wine business also include operations in a variety of sizes, creating equipment needs that are often unique to each business.

Here’s how lithium-ion batteries meet the needs of a diverse array of wine producers.

All-season power solution

The wine industry fluctuates by nature due to its basis in agriculture, which can be impacted by many variables. In addition to the regular ebb and flow of farming, there are random hits from climate extremes.

The last two years, for example, included shifts due to crop sizes, changes in customer purchasing habits during the pandemic and wildfires in parts of California, according to industry leaders who spoke at the California Department of Food and Agriculture Annual Grape Crush Report.

Participants discussed how the market can be challenging to understand and predict, and how the full effect of the pandemic on wine sales remains to be seen. The bulk market, for example, saw an increase in purchases during lockdowns, but whether those numbers will change again going forward is still uncertain.

As producers look to balance supply and demand, lithium-ion batteries are ideal for these variances. Lithium-ion batteries can wait for six months in off-mode, without the risk of losing capacity or becoming inoperable. On the other hand, opportunity charging allows the batteries to operate through multiple shifts, 24/7, for months in a row during the high season.

By comparison to lead-acid, lithium batteries are a safer, more reliable and economical source of power for loading and unloading trailers and moving crates and barrels at wineries, breweries, distributors and warehouse operations.

Perfect equipment–application fit

Modern lithium battery management systems are Wi-Fi enabled and can provide fleet managers with a reliable power study. The data includes multiple indicators of lift truck battery performance and health, including energy throughput, the timing of charging events, etc. This data by itself provides valuable insights for better equipment utilization and can be further integrated with warehouse management software analytics.

A lithium power pack can be tailored to your operation’s requirements for when, where and how much power is needed. Due diligence in conducting a power study and settling on the right battery capacity means you only pay for what you need, focus on operations and forget about the battery. It is one less factor that producers need to plan around, a key advantage in a business like the wine industry, which experiences variances throughout the calendar year and in year-over-year results.

Specialty equipment

A battery charging and changing room, as required by lead-acid technology, is a heavy burden on any warehouse; it is next to impossible in a wine cellar.

Clean power

In the wine industry, as in any other food and beverage industry segment, hygiene standards are of utmost importance. Electric forklifts powered by lithium-ion batteries are the ideal choice when it comes to an industrial battery safety. Lithium-ion technology is non-toxic power without the risks of acid fumes and spills associated with overheating lead-acid batteries or human error in their daily maintenance.

Lithium batteries use up to 30% less electricity due to better energy conversion, which translates into energy savings and a smaller carbon footprint for the operation.