Charging Lithium Batteries

- Reprinted by permission - BMPRO (a Setec brand).

What’s all the hype about?  You’ve spent good money and invested in a Lithium battery.  Most likely what is called a LIPEFO4 battery – Lithium Iron Phosphate.  You’ve been sold on all the features such as lighter, faster to charge, higher capacity more cycles and better for the environment – now how do you look after it for the future to maximise all these features so you can get out and power your adventures. Can’t I just use any charger for my battery?

A standard lead-acid battery has a different construction and chemistry compared to a Lithium battery and this is why it has limited features compared to these newer batteries. Therefore to maximise these features which enable you to enjoy a more reliable power source when camping, a different charging requirement is essential.

Lithium batteries are made up of multiple internal sealed cells and then a battery management system that controls and monitors these cells.  A lead-acid battery, by comparison, is purely made up of a chemical reaction with lead plates with no electronic controls.  These electronic controls are generally called a BMS (Battery Management System). This BMS manages the cells during the charging process, unlike a lead-acid battery where the battery is “seen” as one cell.

A battery charger which has a dedicated charging profile for Lithium batteries utilises Constant Current (CC) followed by Constant Voltage (CV) to a particular capacity.  Once the current drops to a particularly low-level charge will be stopped.  Leaving Lithium batteries on a float charge is not ideal.

• BMPRO retailers
• BMPRO Website / buy online

BMPRO battery charging and power management solutions

Holroyd Utowpia is the sole aftermarket Australia distributor for BMPRO battery charging and power management solutions.

BMPRO products are designed, manufactured and tested by Setec. Setec, an Australian company, is the largest provider of Australian-designed and manufactured power supplies into the RV market.

BMPRO battery management solutions are fantastic caravan/RV products that you can on-sell to your customers to power all their outdoor adventures! The range includes power management devices, battery chargers, towing safety devices, water level indicators and more.

Many trailer manufacturers, especially companies building horse floats, have a need for battery chargers and monitors.

To learn more about the BMPRO range and how to become a preferred retailer, call Holroyd Utowpia on 03 9457 3060 or view the range here.

RV Battery basics

Batteries are a major component of a recreational vehicle (RV), particularly those set up for independent living and remote country travel. 

If you are an RV enthusiast and you are investigating power management solutions and battery chargers for your RV, Setec has prepared an article that explains the different types of batteries required for outdoor adventuring and the different type of deep cycle batteries available.

Read the article here......

Experience hands at work!

Holroyd Utowpia's culture is one of respecting each other's contribution to the company's performance and nurturing our much-valued knowledge base, built up over many decades.

Two leading hands in our manufacturing team, Rob and Peter, lead the way in upholding the values, mission and vision of our company. Collectively, Rob and Peter have contributed to the company's success for, incredibly, over 70 years!

Their hands have been instrumental in manufacturing axles, assembling axle and trailer parts, fulfilling customer orders efficiently and having a great welcoming chat with our customers.

BMPRO battery chargers - perfect to keep you on the go

Battery charging has come a long way in recent years with intelligent systems able to recognise your battery’s condition and how best to charge it.

Setec, the company who design and manufacture the BMPRO range of battery charging and power management solutions, has launched a range of battery chargers that will keep RV enthusiasts on the road for longer. 

Read more about the BMPRO BatteryCharge range.

NSK Bearings - industry leading and built to last!

Holroyd Utowpia is a proud partner of NSK. We believe NSK's bearing products achieve the longest mileage and the least wear and tear for your trailers. NSK bearings are well-sealed and durable against water and mud, and designed for high-rotation conditions.

It's no accident Holroyd Utowpia has long-standing relationships with its many clients. Customers trust Holroyd Utowpia to supply axle and trailer parts that are of the highest quality time and time again. When an order is loaded onto our truck for delivery, we know that every trailer part has been performance tested to withstand any on-road and off-road terrain - rain, hail or shine.

That's why we choose NSK Bearings.

From 1st January 2018, NSK will be standard on all hubs!

Holroyd Utowpia appointed BMPRO aftermarket distributor Australia

BMPRO, powered by Setec, announced this month that Holroyd Utowpia has been appointed to be the Australian aftermarket distributor of BMPRO.

Holroyd Utowpia has a long and proud history of manufacturing and supplying trailer axles and trailer parts.  You tow it, we know it!  Holroyd Utowpia is Australian-owned and been in business for over 70 years, proudly manufacturing axles using Australian steel and supplying a wide range of trailer parts to the OEM market.

The “Holroyd” name stands for product quality and great service; it’s for this reason that Holroyd Utowpia is pleased to distribute the BMPRO aftermarket range in Australia.

Holroyd Utowpia, together with Setec, powering your adventures.

To learn more about the BMPRO range of power management and battery management solutions, go to: www.teambmpro.com

Australian Steel – Long Term Value

The steel industry in Australia has witnessed a surge in competition with the entry of several foreign manufacturers especially from Asian countries including China and India over the past few years. The steel available from importers based in these countries has attracted Australian companies owing to the lower costs as compared to the price of locally manufactured steel. While the attractive prices have contributed to the hype surrounding the entry of these players, several issues regarding the quality of steel from some of the offshore manufacturers have also come to forefront.

Properties of Australian Steel vs Imported Steel

While the domestic steel manufacturers in the country strictly adhere to the standards that are laid down by recognized national and international bodies such as Standards Australia, the same cannot be said about steel imported from other countries.

Though the steel imported from offshore manufacturers might be cheaper, but its quality is directly proportional to its cost. There has been non-consistency in the properties across the same block of steel indicating poor and technically flawed construction process. Virgin steel sometimes was reported to be adulterated with inferior quality steel to lower its price which also impact its structural properties like durability, integrity and strength.

Steel from international manufacturers such as those in China has lower durability and toughness and requires addition of alloys like Vanadium and Niobium for improving its stability. This also increases the hardness of the steel making it less weldable and more susceptible to welding defects. It is also more prone to rusting and corrosion. Boron has been found in steel supplied by some foreign manufacturers that makes the steel brittle when it is subject to welding process. This can lead to an increase in risk while using such quality of steel if special countermeasures are not employed.

As compared to steel imported from offshore manufacturers, Australian Steel contains a lower amount of Carbon and other alloying elements leading to a lower CEq value. Hence, the domestic steel has a higher weldability as it is less hard than its imported counterparts. Defects that can occur during the welding process especially cold cracking caused by Hydrogen and spot weld peeling are rare occurrences in Australian steel. The Australian steel has a higher Sulphur content which besides improving its weldability also enhances its machinability. This is especially important for industries engaged in manufacturing steel parts such as axles.

Hazards of using a lower quality cheaper product

There have been several instances around the country pointing towards poor quality of the steel bought from offshore manufacturers. In one such incident in western Sydney, a bridge that was made from imported steel had compromised structural integrity due to employment of substandard materials. The deflection of the bridge was six times more than that allowed in its design. The welds in the bridge were disintegrating and there was a high risk of the bridge collapsing.

In another instance reflecting the inferior grade of imported steel, three foot bridges that were made in China did not meet required standards. These bridges situated at Busselton, were examined by Australian Steel Institute and were found to be highly prone to rusting. Their welding was lacking in quality and the deflection in them was beyond permissible limits. Not only did these bridges incur high upkeep costs but they posed a threat to safety of the users.

Though the imported steel might be cheaper that the one manufactured locally, but it is found wanting in its quality and structural integrity. This becomes especially important in parts that are used in industry. It might lead to safety concerns if employed in buildings as well as machinery constructed from low grade imported steel may cause a hazardous environment for the people employed to operate it.

Work Spheres reflecting Good Quality of Australian Steel

On the other hand, Australian steel has been used both domestically and internationally in various projects successfully that are a testimony to its quality. The Chadstone shopping center situated in Melbourne is among the largest around the world and has been built out of Australian steel. Translational Research Institute’s building is constructed of steel from one of the leading manufacturer of the country. The AAMI Park is another perfect example of durability, strength and versatility of Australian Steel. Companies from distinct industrial domains make use of Australian steel for fabricating parts. Government agencies like the Australian railway industry make use of rails and sleeper systems fabricated from local steel. The widespread usage of the Australian steel reflects its superiority as compared to imported steel.

Is imported steel actually cheaper in the long run?

Though the initial buying costs associated with steel from foreign manufacturers might appear lucrative in short term, the different issues that are associated with it eventually make it more expensive to use.

The faster wear and tear and need of continuous maintenance and repair increase the costs that are incurred in the long run when using imported steel. Damaging of machinery will also lead to longer downtimes in industry and further add to their losses. Structural integrity of buildings using the foreign steel is undermined and there may be a risk of it collapsing as has been seen in various bridges made from imported material.

Employing substandard steel for manufacturing vehicle parts especially axles and frame can be dangerous both to the vehicle as well as its occupants as it may increase the chances of accidents to due failure of equipment. This may result in litigation costs for the manufacturers of both vehicle and the parts used in it.

 Advantages of using Australian Steel

Not only is Australian steel more cost effective when weighing the pros and cons, it is also more durable, safe and stronger as compared to imported steel. Buying steel manufactured by a domestic company comes with the added benefit of technical inputs given by the experts employed by these companies that assist in improving the quality of product or structure to be constructed. Using locally manufactured steel will also help to provide employment to the local population hence giving an economic boost to the nation as well.

Axles are the integral component of a trailer or any other vehicle and employment of a high-quality material for their manufacturing is an absolute necessity. We at Holroyd Goad value the importance of a high-quality axle for trailers and make use of the highest quality of the Australian steel. The process we employ for construction is refined by our team of engineers to ensure that the finished product is of best grade and up to required standards.

Utowpia’s place in Australia’s story of quality manufacturing

Modern Australian manufacturing has a long and varied history. Throughout all, and right through to today as globalisation and other factors have forced Australian manufacturing to adapt and become leaner to keep up, a common thread has been the emphasis on quality.

During the rises, falls and rebirths in Australian manufacturing history, Australians have always taken pride in and valued products that work, stand the test of time and become an integral part of Australian lifestyles.

When you think of Victa mowers or Aerogard flyspray, both brands spring to mind as reliable, Australian-made and with a proud history of performance. Victa is still manufacturing in New South Wales while Aerogard has its origins as a CSIRO formula (and used by the Queen on an official visit to Canberra in 1963). Both products are staples of the Australian lifestyle and fondly regarded as iconic brands.

While times have changed since the Queen attended that mosquito-ridden garden party in Canberra, let alone when the first Victa roared into life almost 70 years ago, reliability of performance remains a key factor for Australians when making purchasing decisions.

At Holroyd Utowpia we are huge advocates for Australian manufacturing. Our axles are manufactured for reliability in Australia’s challenging, unique conditions. Our country has built-up, heavily populated coastal areas, undulating and flat regions, and rugged, four-wheel-drive-only spaces. We have snow-peaked mountains just hours from the red dust of the Outback. In a land of such contrasts, driving conditions are constantly changing so drivers need a towing product to rely on.

Whether it’s towing a big rig or recreational holiday caravan, Holroyd products can always be relied upon for safety and reliability of performance. Locally tested to ensure they’re up to the challenge of Australian conditions, all our axles are manufactured from quality Australian steel.

Constantly, trailer manufacturers have a pile of rejected axles that either aren’t perfectly round or if square, aren’t perfectly straight. Stories of snapped imported axles are plentiful!

Our manufacturing process involves the careful selection of Australian steel from reputable suppliers and then processing the exact axles profile our customers require. Regular calibration to check the exactness of our machining is undertaken including batch sampling.

All components that are utilised in the manufacturing process have been designed and manufactured to our exact expectations. In fact, we regularly have competitors who request our services to re-machine their products to meet industry and ADR requirements. Through the welding and assembly stages, multiple engineering checks are conducted to ensure that we are able to quality as “Holroyd ready”.  

We stand by our Australian steel manufactured products, and any trailer manufacturer demanding only Holroyd has never let their customers down. 

With companies like ours still committed to local manufacturing and making quality products that will stand the test of time, we believe the future is still bright for Australian manufacturing.

Introducing Holroyd Utowpia: a strong past with an exciting future

Welcome to Holroyd Utowpia. We’re on a mission to bring Australians the best offering in axles, trailer products and accessories, with excellence of service matching the high quality products we make and sell.

We believe that locally made products best suit the Australian way of life, with its love affair of the great outdoors. Caravans, horse floats, boat trailers and everything else related to towing are a very common sight on our roads.

If you take the time to think about it, you realise that the importance of reliability and performance in towing products can’t be underestimated. Everyday industry and commercial enterprise could not continue across Australia without reliable towing products and accessories to ensure safe transit across this huge, diverse country of ours.

Owner and CEO David Bayliss says, “I was inspired to establish Utowpia as I strongly identified with the solid values and commitment to Australian manufacturing that existed in the original Holroyd business.”

Having identified the potential of the Holroyd offering, David wants to continue to build on the successes of the past and innovate further into the future.

David is a familiar name in Australian manufacturing and brings an entrepreneurial mindset and commitment to innovation, having been CEO of power supply manufacturer Setec.

Setec won the 2015 Telstra Business Awards - Medium Business category, in recognition for its almost 50 years of designing and manufacturing power solutions. In 2014, under David’s leadership, Setec launched BM Pro, an innovative battery management range designed to assist recreational vehicle travellers manage their battery power via Bluetooth technology.

When it comes to towing, safety is of utmost importance, and that’s why Utowpia products are manufactured to do what we say they will do. Quality products and strong attention to detail are among our core values, as well as excellence in the way we communicate with and service our valued customers.

With David at the helm, we are looking to continue our commitment to Australian manufacturing and offering a product that’s second to none. Having confidence and belief in our products will flow from staff right through to the end user.

As head of Setec and now at Utowpia, David has made clear his commitment to Australian manufacturing and engineering by supporting staff on a local level.

As David points out, a dedicated workforce is always key to a company’s forward thinking. By ensuring that mindset carries through the entire organisation, success will come.

Bringing decades of expertise from Holroyd ‘in tow’, we’re looking forward to the next stage of Holroyd Utowpia.

You can rest assured that our commitment to Australian manufacturing values, knowledge of our product and industry, and excellence in customer service will follow.

As we say, if you tow it, we know it.