Italian machinery manufacturer CAM presented its latest innovation, Fasmelt, which is aimed at significantly reducing a battery company’s energy costs, CO2 emissions and carbon footprint.
A webinar, hosted in April by Francesco Marfisi and Maria Pia De Simone, demonstrated the Fasmelt technology. It is specifically designed to replace both gas and electric immersion lead melting pots by induction heating. At the start of the webinar, a demonstration unit was switched on and pure lead ingots loaded with a promise of reaching a pouring temperature of 400°C in 20 minutes.
The company said it is a substitute technology for any lead or lead alloy melting process used in lead-acid battery manufacture. The process is completely carbon free at the point of delivery (the source of electricity is another matter). The power usage is 50KW and can maintain kettle temperature at a pouring rate of 60 litres per minute.
The 20-minute heating time compares to three hours for gas, plus there is 90% less dross during operation. CAM estimates that users can expect savings of up to €500,000 ($552,000) per annum. The calculation was made with the energy costs of a large Italian automotive battery manufacturer, said Francesco Marfisi of CAM. The given price tag is €300,000 ($331,000).
CAM technicians presented the operating conditions, including temperatures, on the control panel. The lead poured from the nozzle at a reasonable rate as the valve was opened.
