Powervamp – New look for 20th year

Exciting times are ahead for battery pack specialist, Powervamp, as it introduces a new look for its products in its 20th year in business. Fresh labelling is being applied to the company’s range of jump start packs in an effort to not only bring their image right up to date, but also to make the labels easier to read. I met the company’s Marketing Manager, Ed Roller, at its Weston-super-Mare headquarters, who explained that the branding has been stripped down and redesigned to make it even clearer and to give the power units more visual impact.

Rebranding

Powervamp started to introduce the new branding in November last year, gradually phasing it in across its entire range of battery packs for the bus and coach industry. It started with the 12v packs with a view to then rebrand its devices for the aviation market and the other areas it supplies to. In addition to the new labelling, redesigned data sheets for the products, providing all necessary information and instructions, have been released too. According to Ed, feedback on the new design has been positive. He said, ‘The new branding has been acknowleged by our customers and distributors as being a much clearer and concise design.’

New branding is being rolled out on Powervamp’s products

New branding is being rolled out on Powervamp’s products

The design of the new branding is in line with the graphics on Powervamp’s website, sharing similar motifs and colours. Doing so makes the company’s image more complete, creating a more uniform look.

In addition to the rebranding, Powervamp has slimmed down its array of products for a more lean range. The company had grown its collection of solutions so extensively over the years that it found there was quite a bit of overlap in specifications across its range. Ed said the leaner selection of products it provides has served to make choosing the right kit easier.

With all of these developments in place, Powervamp is embarking on an advertising campaign to drive awareness of the changes. The company is looking to further enhance its presence with a number of high profile marketing programs including mailshots, advertising and its E-Bay site, which it has seen a lot of success and growth in over the years.

Two decades

Marketing Manager, Ed Roller

Marketing Manager, Ed Roller

All of this development comes at a landmark time for Powervamp, as it celebrates its 20th anniversary. The business was established by Ed’s father, Richard Roller, who began by building a range of portable packs for starting cars, buses and trucks. The company is thought to be the first producer of stainless steel, portable battery packs for starting helicopter turbines. It is logical that the business should produce equipment for the helicopter market given Richard’s interest in aviation. He then went on to develop the range into CVs and cars and in the past has even supplied to military special operations units. It is the aeroplane and helicopter sector that has proved its biggest market, with sales for such applications across the globe. Second to this is the automotive sector, which includes bus and coach.

As the company and product range grew, a need to move into a new facility became apparent. This saw it relocate to its current Weston-super-Mare site in 1997. The company has expanded so much since the move that it now inhabits three sites on the same estate. It has grown to employ around 55 staff and even has another arm of its business in Luton. This second part of its operation is called Effekta, previously an independent company that was acquired in 2011. Powervamp used to be one of its customers, purchasing the power systems it produces.

Assembly of Powervamp’s products takes place in the UK

Assembly of Powervamp’s products takes place in the UK

Over the years, Ed said the business has gathered an extensive amount of experience and knowledge of its products in the field, with some items supplied almost 20 years ago still in use. Using this knowledge, the company has continued to revise and improve its product range. The packs have become a relatively common sight in workshops and depots across the country.

To those that use Powervamp jump-starters, particularly fleet operators, they are ‘something they can’t do without’, according to Ed. His advice to those encountering a battery problem was: ‘always ascertain what is causing it; is it the tachograph, the lights being left on or is the battery just old? If it’s the latter, then change the battery rather than jump starting it.’ However, as a backup he suggests everyone should have a jump starter, as they can ‘avoid nuisances’.

The TP1224HDD is one of the main products it supplies to the bus and coach market

The TP1224HDD is one of the main products it supplies to the bus and coach market

For the bus and coach industry, the main products it sells are its 24v and 12/24v jump starters. One model it has sold a lot of to PCV fleet operators is the TB1224HDD, which is intended for heavy or regular 24v and 12v vehicle starting. It is designed for fleets comprising of diesels of up to 15-litres. Weighing 27kg, it has a standard recharge time of five hours from 50% charged and should be usable in temperatures from as low as -30degreesC to as hot as 40 degreesC.

Designing products usable in various extreme conditions, not just in terms of temperature, is a key concern for Powervamp. One item that certainly fits this bill is its NATO 200 power pack, a more powerful version of its NATO 175. Designed for the Dutch military, the unit was developed for use in war conditions, so should withstand the rigours of bus and coach workshops. It is contained in a tough, all steel powder coated case and has separate 12v and 24v outlets, as well as independent isolator switches in an effort to deliver long, trouble free operation. It can start 19-litre CVs with the 24V outlet and up to 4.5-litre diesels with the 12V outlet. Ed described it as, ‘Powerful, robust and simple to maintain and repair. If it can start a tank, it can start a coach.’

The NATO 200, described as ‘powerful, robust and simple to maintain’ by Ed

The NATO 200, described as ‘powerful, robust and simple to maintain’ by Ed

In terms of the colour and shape of its products, Ed believes Powervamp is the most recognisable on the market, especially the NATO models. The company’s products have been enhanced through the years, with one of the main challenges being their shape. The batteries inside them cannot be shrunk, said Ed, which largely dictates the unit’s form. Despite this, the company has devised ways to make its models as space saving as possible, having done this with the Tower Pack, a relatively recent product it has introduced. Ed said this is one of his best selling products for PCV applications. It is a tall, thin unit, mounted on a trolley and is specifically designed for starting large vehicles, having 12v and 24v charging capabilities. It is especially suitable for use outside the depot, being easily moved around thanks to its wheeled carrying frame.

Developments have also come in the form of extra functions. Technology to carry out the absorption of any voltage spikes whilst the jump-starter is in use is a key safety feature that reassures the operator. All automotive products also have an audible reverse polarity warning alarm to safeguard against connecting the pack incorrectly.

All product development is carried out in house, using the latest CAD technology. The same can be said of its assembly, all of which takes place in its Weston-super-Mare facilities. It assembles its products in house, importing the various components it uses, such as the batteries in the charger packs which are sourced from the USA. Being built in the UK means the company has better control over lead times. Ed said, ‘People like to buy British. There is a lot on the market that is imported. We are proud to wave the flag, doing so goes a long way with our customers.’

According to Ed, the fact Powervamp does not ‘import from China and brand as our own’ is something that sets the company apart from others offering similar equipment. Instead, Powervamp has complete control over the product’s quality and design.

A pack for life

Commenting on the quality of Powervamp’s products, Ed said, ‘There are cheaper products on the market, but our quality, and reputation, marks us as one of the best.’ With its firm footing in aviation the company uses its skills in developing the high quality and reliable products necessary for this sector to products it manufacturers for other applications.

Ed said, ‘It’s not just about the products though, we have 20 years worth of experience in building them, so we know how they get used and the conditions they are put through and we use this experience when designing. We know they need to be simple to work on and we design them to be repaired by the operator. They are screwed together rather than riveted, making them easier to repair.’

On the subject of maintenance and repair, Powervamp can offer technical assistance over the phone, via email or by calling into the offices. The company is also able to arrange collection, and delivery, of any model jump-starter from a customer’s place of work and repair it in house. They can even mail order parts for the units if required. The company will fix any pack it has ever made, it can even repair the very first unit it produced! It is important to note that the packs are designed to be robust, so repairs should be a rarity. Ed said the company makes ‘packs for life. We build heavy duty equipment designed to last for many years. It gives our customers peace of mind.’

Powervamp’s products have to be rigorous to withstand the often ‘punishing’ conditions of bus and coach workshops and depots, according to Ed. ‘It’s a different kettle of fish compared to aviation’, he said. ‘It is just the nature of the business though, the units get used heavily day in, day out in a bus depot. They will have a tough life, especially in the colder months, but that’s what they are designed for. If they fell apart at day one, then we wouldn’t have the repeat custom we do from this industry.’

The bus and coach sector is a very valued customer base for Powervamp. It is small in comparison to aviation, which makes up to 70% of its business, but it has been a part of the portfolio since day one. It is an area it is growing in, which was one of the reasons why the decision was made to rebrand. Ed said, ‘We’ve got a excellent reputation amongst bus and coach operators, it’s not an industry we would ever turn our back on and we are proud to be involved with this market.’

Last word

Further growth is expected abroad, with Powervamp pushing its business in the US. It is releasing its Tower Pack under the name of Go-Pack in the States, with the company operating out of offices in Florida. Ed said, ‘The American launch is being kickstarted this year. We have a lot happening at the moment, we are firing in several different directions. With everything we have done and are doing, I can see growth over the next 12 months being significant. It’s something that the Powervamp Group is very excited about.’

By Chris Peat

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