UK: JFD, Kokam Sign Rolling Distributor Agreement

James Fisher Defence (JFD), the leading global sub-sea rescue, operations and engineering company, today announced at DSEI 2013 that it has signed a rolling distributor agreement with Kokam, a leading global provider of lithium powered batteries.

As part of the agreement, JFD will re-sell Kokam’s full range of products within all its markets to customers in the UK.

Kokam is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of rechargeable lithium polymer batteries exporting to 30 countries and with over 150 different patents. The company operates across a number of industries, including transport, stationary, marine, aerospace, industry, medical and defence.  Kokam’s products are used within many applications, including electric vehicles, manned and solar aircraft, energy storage systems for solar and wind power, weaponry, as well as surface and sub-sea craft.

“The continuing depletion of global fossil fuels and oil supply, in conjunction with more stringent environmental regulations that demand the reduction of emissions, as well as the requirement to increase energy efficiency and operational safety, has driven significant take up in the use of advanced technologies such as lithium power batteries,” says Ben Sharples, Managing Director, James Fisher Defence.

“Kokam’s lithium batteries incorporate next generation technology to create an energy source of high density that delivers a genuine improvement in efficiency, safety, power and durability. JFD has a long experience of using Kokam’s lithium batteries within our product range, and have benefited first hand from the performance gains that they provide.  I am delighted that we are now a distributor for the company in the UK,” continues Sharples.

JFD currently uses Kokam’s lithium powered batteries in the company’s ROKS-DSRV-II submersible, as part of its contract with the South Korean Navy and the DSAR-6 submersible as part of its contract with the Singapore Navy.  JFD also utilises the technology to power its new SEAL Pod range of Swimmer Delivery Vehicles (SDVs), increasing both speed and range, as well as increasing stability and reliability, which is particularly essential for equipment used in the military and defence sectors.  The SEAL Pod SDVs were launched at DSEI 2013 on 10th September and can be viewed on the JFD stand

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Press Release, September 12, 2013; Image: JDF