A spotlight on innovation

For many of the challenges faced in mining, Energizer has a range of solutions to light the way.

Australia’s mines are hardly everyday places. They face heavy-duty challenges that require heavy-duty solutions. And these solutions, whether it be a giant piece of equipment or specialised software, aren’t available at just any corner store.

With all the research and development that goes into creating heavy-duty solutions, they need to be manufactured by those who know what they’re doing.

As one of world’s largest manufacturers of primary batteries and portable lighting products, Energizer understands it’s critical to get its heavy-duty solutions into the right hands.

That’s why Energizer developed a dedicated website to showcase products specially created for those working in heavy industry.

One key feature of the website is the ‘Tech Library’, which offers visitors a deeper dive into Energizer’s industry-focused products through an extensive archive of technical information.

“We sell hundreds of thousands of lights into Australian mines every year,” Energizer national account manager Steve Daw told Australian Mining.

“The professional website and Tech Library helps our customers gain an understanding of what lighting or battery solution will be best suited to meet their challenge, whether it be a smaller, cost-effective handheld, or a high-spec, top-of-the-range headlight.”

One such light range featured on the Energizer professional website is ATEX.

The name, which brings together ‘ATmosphere’ and ‘EXplosive’, refers to the hazard of explosive atmospheres in workplaces like mining due to flammable gases or combustible dust.

The ATEX range features two flashlights with either AA or D battery capabilities, and a headlight to use for close-up work.

With global certification for industrial use, ingress protection of IP67 for dust and water, shatterproof lenses, and anti-static push-button switches, the ATEX range has made a name for itself in the industry.

“A huge benefit of the ATEX range is that it’s intrinsically safe and suitable for Zone 0, 1 and 2, based on international explosive hazard standards,” Daw said. “That means the range is safe even in areas where explosive gas is present continuously for long periods.”

Having a safe, portable lighting solution in a combustible gas environment is a huge benefit to those working in underground conditions such a coal mining. But even for non-gaseous environments, Energizer has a lighting range that is cost effective without compromising on power.

The Energizer Pro Series range features energy efficient hybrid power technology that packs a punch with 12 times brighter output than a standard LED at 500 and 650 lumens.

With headlights, handhelds, and work lights on offer, the Pro Series has been developed specifically with industry in mind.

“There’s been research done in both Australia and France around the lights that professionals are looking for, and the Pro Series has been developed from those insights,” Daw said.

The entire Pro Series range is waterproof, dustproof, shatterproof, and comes in plastic-free packaging for a greener footprint.

The whole series also boasts hybrid charge technology, meaning the lights can be easily recharged or run on batteries supplied with the kit.

Daw said the series has been so successful the company has engineered an expansion to the range.

“We’ll be adding a new heavy-duty spotlight to the series by early next year,” he said. “It has a 1150 lumen output and enjoys all the benefits of the other products in the Pro Series – strength, durability, and reliability.

“The spotlight can easily be made hands-free and comes with three-metre impact resistance.”

Innovation is one area where Energizer shines. While both the Pro Series and ATEX ranges feature headlights, the company saw the dynamic applications its lights were involved in and decided to create even more options.

Energizer recently released six new headlamps ranging from 250 lumens to 575 lumens. Each comes in distinct colourways, which distinguishes their varying features making them suitable for a range of conditions.

The HDL 10, 20 and 30 headlamps increase in capability as the range continues, with the HDL 30 headlamp featuring dimmable switching on red, green or white LED modes.

The HDL 40, 50 and 60 headlamps also increase in capabilities, with the HDL 60 headlamp featuring advanced dimming control across seven modes including high, medium, low, dimming, red, red flashing and green light.

The key differentiator of the HDL 40, 50 and 60 headlamps from the rest of the HDL range is that they are completely waterproof.

“The range was launched last year,” Daw said. “The specs increased dramatically but the cost stayed the same.

“These are massively popular in mining thanks to their cost effectiveness, which is essential when operators are purchasing 4000–5000 or so at a time.”

Another range that has become a mining industry staple comes from Energizer Holdings’ Eveready brand.

The iconic Eveready Dolphin range of five torches – named for their specially designed waterproof and floating capabilities – first appeared in 1967 and have since sold over 20 million torches into Australia.

The Dolphin Lantern generates 235 lumens with a 250m beam distance. Its engineered LED technology makes it up to 12 times brighter than standard LEDs and can operate for up to 75 hours with a single six-volt battery.

The Lantern also comes in a compact version, which boasts all the features of the original lantern without compromising on space.

The Mini Torch is an easy-to-use handheld that gives off 125 lumens and is up to five times brighter than regular LEDs. Like the rest of the range, the Mini features a shatterproof lens that makes it perfect for demanding conditions.

The 2-in-1 Light is named for its ability to provide both directional and area lighting, making it the pick of the range for emergency illumination.

The Pico is the smallest light in the range and is easily clipped onto a belt loop or backpack for lighting on the go. This tiny but mighty light isn’t to be underestimated; the Pico can deliver hours of light with minimal footprint.

Daw said the Dolphin torches started out as a fairly rudimentary light and have now become a mining industry mainstay.

“The Dolphin range was invented in Australia, for Australia, and has been one of the most successful lights across the Energizer offering,” he said. “It all comes back to our drive to innovate based on the feedback of our customers.

“We’re now on our seventh version of the Dolphin lantern, and it has only continued to get better over the years.”

History is important to Energizer. Having originally invented the first flashlight in the 1890s, the company’s legacy is one of innovation. But producing new technologies also means communicating to the world how those innovations can bring new and evolving benefits.

That’s why the company goes to lengths to ensure its distributors are familiar with not only the company’s history, but the complexities of its range and all it has to offer.

Daw said this relationship with distributors helps Energizer support the mining industry with any portable lighting challenge it may encounter.

“We need to ensure Australia’s mines are getting solutions to help them stay safe and efficient,” he said. “We’re committed to supporting the industry for another century as our innovations continue to unfold.”

This feature appeared in the November 2024 issue of Australian Mining.