Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery Partially Transfers Battery Charge Process to West Japan

Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery plans temporary and partial transfer of automotive lead battery charging process in Saitama works in Saitama Prefecture, Japan to Nabari works in Mie Prefecture, Japan. Saitama works would be affected by electric power limitation this summer since the works is located in TEPCO’s service area. Then the firm started construction of a temporary facility for battery charging process in Nabari works. The firm plans to transfer battery assembly from Saitama to Mie partially and to finish charging process in Nabari.

Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery manufactures automotive lead battery in Saitama works and industrial lead battery in Nabari works. In TEPCO’s service area including Saitama Prefecture, electric power supply limitation is scheduled by 25% at maximum this summer.

Manufacturing processes of automotive lead battery are (1) manufacture of electrode plates, (2) assembly of battery bodies, and (3) battery charge. Electricity consumption is mostly in the charging process. An automotive lead battery needs more than 20 hours of power charge before shipment. During the electric power limitation of this summer, the charging process would take longer time due to low voltage. Longer charging time would result in less battery shipment.

It is still unforeseeable how much Saitama works’ battery shipment would be affected by electricity limitation. However, Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery decided alternate operation in Nabari works immediately after Japan Earthquake and started construction of a temporary facility. In usual years, battery makers increase automotive lead battery production in June and July before the demand season of summer. The firm plans to prepare alternate operation in Nabari by June-July.