Forging Ahead: A Partnership Driving Innovation in Battery Technology
In the dynamic world of electronics design and manufacturing, collaboration is often key to navigating complexities and seizing opportunities. This holds true for Alexander Battery Technologies (ABT), a specialist in designing, developing, and manufacturing lithium-ion battery packs, and Avnet Silica. The company is headquartered in Peterlee, located south of Sunderland in the North-East of England.
From Concept to Creation
ABT operates a ‘cradle to grave’ model, meaning the company handles the entire lifecycle of a battery pack. In a typical scenario, a customer would approach ABT with a specification for a battery pack needed for their product.
ABT then takes this initial specification and develops the battery pack comprehensively, encompassing plastics, electronics, and cell technology selection. Their service extends all the way to mass manufacturing the product and providing support throughout its entire lifetime.
Ben Coote, an Electronics Design Engineer at ABT, works closely with the Avnet Silica team
Ben Coote, an Electronics Design Engineer at ABT, plays a vital role in this process. His day-to-day work involves designing the electrical circuits that control and monitor the Li-ion battery packs to ensure they perform correctly and are protected against potential issues.
ABT serves a diverse clientele. Some customers may provide a clear specification of their product’s function and the required battery pack performance, yet have flexibility regarding constraints like space and weight. More frequently, others seek ABT’s in-depth knowledge and expertise, particularly for devices like power tools, and the growing e-mobility sector, which includes e-scooters, surprisingly popular e-surfboards, e-bikes, and e-motorbikes.
Despite their internal capabilities, vast technical knowledge, and expertise, the ABT engineering team faces challenges. Ben notes that while engineers can stay updated and trained on everything, if, for some reason, you have missed a new product or technology launch, how do you know? This highlights a key area where external support becomes invaluable.
The Genesis and Growth of a Partnership
The relationship between Ben and Avnet Silica has roots extending back several years, before joining ABT, with Matthew Lickess, a local Field Application Engineer (FAE). When he moved to ABT, the relationship continued, facilitated by existing connections – ABT’s CEO already knew one of Avnet Silica’s sales directors, who happened to work with the same FAE.
Avnet Silica’s support for ABT’s engineering team is multifaceted, primarily focusing on the core of their product: the battery management system. This system encompasses the protection and control circuitry designed by ABT. Avnet Silica provides crucial assistance in two key areas related to this system:
- Component Selection: They help ABT engineers identify and choose the right components for their designs.
- Component Sourcing: They assist with the supply chain, aiding in component sourcing, especially for production volumes.
Beyond specific component support, Avnet Silica offers a broader, perhaps even more significant, benefit: enhanced market visibility. Given the difficulty engineers have in tracking every new development, Avnet Silica acts as a conduit for vital information. They facilitate introductions and sessions with technical and product support experts from their linecard suppliers. These sessions provide ABT with updates on the suppliers’ latest product schemes and innovations.
While ABT engineers may encounter some of this information through news feeds, a substantial portion is entirely new. For example, the suppliers provide little ‘sneak peeks’ into what’s coming and insights into future product releases that would otherwise be unavailable without a strong supplier relationship. This forward-looking perspective is invaluable in design and planning, and makes Avnet Silica’s provision of these updates ‘very, very helpful’.
Occasionally, Avnet Silica's support can be even more direct and impactful. Ben notes that while not every supplier interaction is a perfect fit, there are instances where Avnet Silica helps ABT find a ‘unicorn golden part’ – a component that is difficult to locate using standard online search tools but perfectly matches ABT’s specific needs.
Collaboration on Cutting-Edge Projects
Alexander Battery Technology production centre facility
The strength of the partnership is particularly evident in major, ongoing projects. ABT is currently engaged in a project that involves developing battery technology for an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) application. Avnet Silica has been involved in this project from its inception.
This eVTOL project presents complex requirements, including the need for high-power MOSFETs and switching devices. Avnet Silica has collaborated with ABT specifically on these requirements. Furthermore, the project’s circuitry responsible for detection and control utilises the MP2787 battery monitor IC from Monolithic Power Systems (MPS), a company Avent Silica introduced to ABT. The device features precision voltage, current, and temperature monitoring analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), which can be used in the system to acquire valuable insights into both the real-time battery pack operating performance and the condition of its individual cells.
Avnet Silica supports ABT's high current application needs by introducing it to relevant suppliers like Nexperia, whose comprehensive line of new MOSFETs proves very effective for its high current applications. For this specific application, ABT received early engineering samples of the part from Nexperia to help the design team test before the part went into production.
Mutual Benefits: A "No-Brainer" Partnership
The partnership is clearly a two-way street, offering substantial benefits to both ABT and Avnet Silica. From ABT’s perspective, working with Avnet Silica has primarily enabled greater visibility of the market and the latest technological advancements, which is crucial given the rapid pace of change in electronics. This access to cutting-edge information and components allows ABT to incorporate the best available solutions into its battery designs. The support for challenging projects like the eVTOL application further demonstrates the tangible value Avnet Silica brings.
For Avnet Silica, collaborating with ABT provides opportunities to support innovative design work and potentially showcase the successful application of their linecard products. It also allows them to generate valuable case studies that demonstrate their capabilities and the value they add to businesses.
As Ben noted, it's a ‘no-brainer’ because everyone wins. ABT gains the technical support and market insights it needs, while Avnet Silica strengthens a key customer relationship and highlights its expertise. For example, when ABT needs guidance to help solve problems, the design team reaches out to suppliers like STMicroelectronics through Avnet Silica.
Advice for Future Collaborators
Based on his experience, Ben offers clear advice to any business or engineer considering working with Avnet Silica for engineering support: ‘reach out and ask how they can help’. He acknowledges that not every interaction yields a perfect solution, but the possibility of finding that critical, hard-to-source component or gaining access to invaluable technical insights makes it highly recommended. Ben's own experience with Avnet Silica has been consistently positive.
