Customized battery charger keeps it simple for mobile lifting aid

Customized battery charger keeps it simple for mobile lifting aid

Every day, objects must be moved, shifted, and lifted, from automotive parts and tax office files to health clinics. And while some of them can be carefully relocated and positioned without recourse to help, plenty of others need a little support. Goods handling is the domain of Expresso, the Kassel-based supplier of ergonomic working aids in Germany. Their innovative range of products takes the strain out of lifting and moving and reduces the risks to every employer’s most valuable asset – their employees.…

Doing our bit to tackle e-waste

Doing our bit to tackle e-waste

With product lifetimes in many areas such as mobile phone shortening, the waste from electronic and electrical equipment (EEE), also known as electronic waste or e-waste, has become one of the fastest growing waste problems worldwide.…

Creative thinking is in the Mascot DNA

Creative thinking is in the Mascot DNA

Clever thinking has been part of how we work at Mascot ever since the company was founded more than 80 years ago as a pioneer in the manufacture of radio equipment.…

Application Story: GENTEX Corp

Application Story: GENTEX Corp

International power supply specialist Mascot has once again demonstrated the prowess of its manufacturing operation and global supply chain by delivering a rapid ramp-up in battery charger production to help one of its major global customers support the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.…

Sodium-Ion: a future-proofed battery solution

Sodium-Ion: a future-proofed battery solution

A future-proofed battery solution Lithium ion batteries have in the past few years become the preferred choice in a broad spectrum of applications. It’s easy to see why: they are versatile, boast high energy density and low self-discharge - below half of that of nickel-based batteries - and require little maintenance. But they have their limitations too: issues around transportation are well-documented and they are also subject to aging, even when not in use, while a protection circuit is invariably needed to maintain voltage and current within safe limits. Unsurprisingly, the search for the ‘perfect’ battery solution continues unabated, and an increased area of focus is sodium ion products.…

Medical charging solutions: thinking ‘outside the box’

Medical charging solutions: thinking ‘outside the box’

Creating solutions for healthcare and medical applications is challenging on many levels. Every specification and requirement must be strictly followed. When it comes to electronic systems, these challenges extend beyond “simple” functionality and into patient safety - from stray electronic noise control, to preventing impact on medical monitoring systems and other sensitive circuits, inside and outside the patient.…

Getting the battery chemistry right

Getting the battery chemistry right

Most devices on the market now use rechargeable batteries. This creates a two-fold challenge for the engineer: addressing a string of battery chemistries in legacy products developed over a manufacturer’s lifetime, and the need to select the best available chemistry for a particular application. Understanding battery chemistry and testing and charging needs will ensure a product operates optimally and cost-effectively. Even a venerable and almost-vintage technology like lead acid is finding a new lease of life beyond the automobile in applications like microgrid storage.…

CE or not CE – that is the question

CE or not CE – that is the question

It is widely anticipated that the CE scheme will continue to apply to products marketed in the UK after Brexit - and certainly the CE mark is still acceptable for many goods being sold in the UK market during the transition period. However, a ‘no deal’ scenario is likely to see the CE marking scheme in the UK replaced from 1st January 2021 by a new national conformity system, equivalent to the CE scheme, but known as the UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) mark.…

Postponement of EU Commission Medical Devices Regulations

Postponement of EU Commission Medical Devices Regulations

Some of the world’s largest economies may have started to re-open, but the coronavirus pandemic isn’t over yet. And the European Commission has taken stock: Member States, health institutions and economic operators will now prioritise the fight against the virus, thanks to a recent decision to postpone the application date of new Medical Devices Regulation. This new regulation was meant to come into force on 26 May 2020. The decision to postpone the new regulation by one year takes into account the unprecedented challenges that the pandemic is posing to health authorities around Europe. It also reflects the need for a rapid increase in the availability of vitally important medical devices across the union, whilst continuing to ensure patient health and safety until the new legislation becomes applicable.…

Universal input voltage: the need for universal appeal

Universal input voltage: the need for universal appeal

With so many voltages and AC/DC plugs worldwide, the need for universal power supply and battery charger solutions is clear. However, despite this statement of fact, many buyers fail to perform a proper check of this important criterion prior to purchase.…