ZARGES GmbH launches fire-proof case for lithium-ion batteries

Dangerous goods packaging expert, ZARGES, is expanding its portfolio with the launch of the K470 Battery Box aluminium case, specially designed for transporting and safekeeping lithium-ion batteries.

The automotive industry is increasing the use of lithium-ion batteries in response to the increasingly popularity of electric cars. Likewise, such batteries are a central component of e-bikes and many modern power tools. This is mainly owing to their high efficiency and relatively light weight compared to other power sources.

However, lithium-ion batteries are considered dangerous goods and are only allowed to be transported in secure containers because the battery may be damaged by improper handling, and in the worst case, a damaged battery may cause a fire. Retailers of these products are now faced with the challenge of safely storing defective batteries or securely sending them back to the manufacturer – without allowing the damaged battery to ignite.

Preventing spread of fire

Usually, an alert is raised if smoke is seen escaping from a package holding a battery. However, the ZARGES K470 Battery Box case prevents this from happening. The new dangerous goods packaging is specially designed for transporting and storing a defective or damaged battery in a safe and convenient way. The interior of the case is coated with an intumescent material. In the case of fire, the interior swells up and prevents the flames from spreading further. The underlying principle: the special absorbent material ensures that solid components are filtered out of the battery gases and that liquid constituents condense on the fibres’ surface. This is how ZARGES’ aluminium cases prevent any leaked flammable gases from igniting.

“In an emergency, a dangerous goods case must be able to absorb the energy released from a fire,” explained ZARGES Product Manager, Michael Blum. Therefore, the ZARGES case was subject to a fire test with very strict criteria: the container's surface must not exceed a temperature of 100°C. “The ZARGES K470 Battery Box case’s proven safety in event of a fire offers a solution to all manufacturers and retailers needing to transport lithium-ion batteries safely.”