French battery manufacturer Saft Groupe SA is looking to expand its activities in Hong Kong and on the Chinese mainland, says Bruno Dathis, acting chairman of the company's management board.

"Saft has been posting strong growth in Asian markets over the past few years, and the company now has a solid presence in railways, aviation, metering, telecoms and energy storage," he says.

The company attributes its growth to its Hong Kong and Shanghai offices and Zhuhai factory which, it says, have enabled Saft to provide high levels of service and support expected by Asian original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) as well as local nickel-based battery system engineering and assembly.

In Hong Kong, Saft supplies batteries to major players in the aviation industry, such as Cathay Pacific and Dragonair, and for MTR trains and signaling systems.

The firm recently completed a major contract for CNR Changchun Railway Vehicles Co Ltd to supply on-board battery systems for new trains for the Hong Kong MTR's West Island Line.

Three onboard battery systems, based on Saft's specialized rechargeable nickel-based rail batteries, are being fitted to each West Island Line train to provide up to 60 minutes of reliable backup power to support vital safety and control functions, such as braking, smoke detection, emergency lighting and door opening, in the event of an interruption to the main power supply.

"The rail markets on the mainland and in Hong Kong are significant growth sectors for Saft. This delivery, along with those in Beijing, Nanjing and Shanghai, demonstrates Saft's competence in designing battery systems that are durable and with low maintenance and high reliability," says Dathis.

Besides nickel-based rail battery systems, Saft has developed the onboard Li-ion system to meet the growing demand for effective, flexible energy storage to increase the operational efficiency and reliability of the new generation of regenerative traction systems.

The system provides autonomous traction power for catenary free or emission free operations, which can help reduce the environmental impact of rail projects, especially in historic city centers. It has been applied to light rail systems, such as trams and street cars, electric multiple units and diesel locomotives.

"Saft's strategy in Hong Kong and on the mainland has always been to support the industry with reliable battery solutions. Our entire range of rechargeable and primary battery systems is now available in Hong Kong and on the mainland," Dathis said.

"We intend to continue expanding our manufacturing base in Zhuhai to meet the growing demand for our products," he added.

amandahua@chinadailyhk.com

(HK Edition 12/25/2014 page1)