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Maintenance and servicing of batteries for critical installations

Posted by Paul Graham on Nov 29, 2021 in Technology |

Choosing the right batteries for your facility is essential to reducing expenses, risks and failures. However, it’s not enough to choose the best batteries; you must also maintain them properly. So how do you ensure that the important batteries in your facility are kept in good working order? Make sure you have waterproof battery load testers on hand.

Batteries are the lifeblood of modern electronics and machinery.

Batteries define the performance of a device and its value to your consumers or research results.

Make sure you order the right batteries for the projects

Before you start maintaining batteries and buying new ones, make sure you’re working with the right type. So start by calculating the power needs of your facility and get the right batteries. To find out if the batteries you buy are powerful enough, conduct a qualification test.

Remember, a battery’s specifications are just the beginning. You should also test Li-ion batteries with your own load testers to make sure they can produce the expected power when needed. For your installation to be cost-effective, the battery must also be able to fulfill its expected life span.

To check batteries regularly, use battery testers

Whether in modern research facilities or in the production of electronic equipment for the military, among others, excellent performance is only possible if the batteries are in top condition. That’s why it’s essential to use accurate battery testers to regularly check the voltage of batteries.

Here are some of the most common tests you should perform regularly:

The cycle test: This test determines how many charge-discharge cycles your batteries can withstand before their rated capacity drops below 80 percent.
The resistance of the battery is tested with a load test. This test shows if a battery can power your critical equipment when needed.
Heat release: If your business or research equipment uses large batteries, heat release can be an issue. Therefore, it is essential to collect data on heat generation throughout the charge/discharge cycles. This information is then used to verify the manufacturer’s specifications for the battery in question.

The EMC test is designed to evaluate the sensitivity of the battery to electromagnetic interference, as well as its ability to operate without disturbing other equipment or being influenced by external interference sources such as digital pulses and frequency signals.

Follow the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule to ensure optimum performance.

If your installation requires batteries to be in perfect condition at all times, it is essential to follow the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions (Airbin can help you). What is the manufacturer’s recommended battery life? If the battery reaches the end of its life and is marked as such by the manufacturer, it should be replaced for optimum performance.

Here are some other manufacturer’s tips for battery care

To assess their ability to hold a charge for the recommended time, batteries should be tested regularly. Clean the battery terminals and make sure your company, research facility or factory is free of dirt. Keep track of your company’s energy demands.

Here are some suggestions for keeping your vital system’s batteries running smoothly. As you can see, it’s a good idea to make sure you know how the system works and that only the appropriate batteries are used. More importantly, you will need the best battery test chargers from reputable manufacturers to check the batteries regularly.

Posted by Paul Graham on Nov 19, 2021 in Data |

The acronym ESG stands for environment, social and governance. Investors are more frequently incorporating non-financial metrics into their analytical approach to identify material risks and growth opportunities. ESG metrics are not typically included in mandatory financial reporting, but are increasingly included in annual and stand-alone sustainability reports.

To help integrate these factors into the investment process, various organizations, such as the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), are attempting to develop standards and definitions of materiality.

Broad trends

What are esg factors? Several major trends are emerging as the demand for ESG investments increases, including climate change and social unrest. The coronavirus epidemic, in particular, has sparked debate about the link between sustainability and the financial system. The CFA Institute is working to establish best practices for integrating ESG investment into financial sector institutions.

A distinction can be made between ESG-focused companies and mainstream companies. The former are primarily non-financial companies that have integrated ESG factors into their business models, while the latter have only recently begun to incorporate sustainability into their business strategies. While there is a growing demand for integrative disclosure, the distinction between these two groups remains difficult to define.

Companies involved

The growing demand for ESG investment opportunities has led to an increase in the number of mainstream companies integrating environmental, social and governance factors into their business strategies. These stakeholder-friendly companies typically implement innovative management and reporting systems that help them attract and retain their (future) customers. This trend is supported by industry analysts such as The Boston ConsultingGroup (BCG), which predicts that the market for sustainable products and services will grow by 6-8% over the next few years.

Companies that incorporate ESG factors into their core business strategies can take many forms, such as B-corporations or fair trade companies. While these initiatives are often created for marketing purposes, they can also provide comprehensive reporting on performance against non-financial metrics.

American Apparel is an example of a company that has integrated ESG factors into its core business model. In 2008, Newsweek recognized it as one of America’s greenest companies. Other examples include Starbucks and IKEA.

ESG investors typically focus on the stage of development of an industry, rather than the development of a company. This means that companies in early stage industries, such as clean energy or ethical fashion, are often more attractive to ESG investors than traditional companies. This preference for emerging industries is not limited to the financial sector; high levels of unemployment and social instability have led ESG investors to seek safe havens for their investments. These safer opportunities are typically located in emerging markets, which are also popular with other investors.

A focus on sustainability

For example, an ESG investor may choose to invest in renewable energy companies first and diversify into other sectors only later. This approach is often used by so-called “patient capital” investors who focus on early-stage industries in the belief that returns on these investments will be greater than those on mature companies.

The financial crisis is another reason why ESG investing has gained momentum in recent years. While most mainstream investment institutions view sustainability as a risk management tool, many ESG investors see it as an opportunity to increase portfolio returns.

What is the difference between an offshore company and a traditional company?

Posted by Paul Graham on Nov 19, 2021 in World |

You wonder about the interest of opening an offshore company, but especially try to understand what are the differences with a traditional company? This article will then bring you an answer! Indeed, we are going to explain you what is the difference between one and the other and the different advantages existing for both.

What is the difference between a classic and an offshore company?
If both exist and can be comparable they have some differences.

The offshore company

The offshore company is by definition a company in a country whose legislation allows to establish it, which is offshore. It can therefore be located in different Caribbean islands, such as the Bahamas or Panama.

In general, companies established abroad have an advantage over those in their country of origin: they benefit from lower taxation and do not need employees. In addition to this important point, we will also see all the other differences between these two types of structures regarding shareholders, directors, addresses but also legal ownership

The classic company

As its name indicates, a classic company is simply a structure existing on its territory and subject by definition to local laws. It must therefore respect French law in terms of corporate governance (e.g. statutes), business forms (SARL, SAS) and taxation.

In addition to these two types of companies that we have just presented, there are also others such as the general partnership or the SCI (Société Civile Immobilière). Each form is characterized by specificities in terms of management and finances that make each one suitable for certain projects. For example, an offshore structure may be preferred if your business is subject to tax constraints.

In brief

The difference between an offshore company and a traditional company lies in its location but also in the applicable legislation. Indeed, an offshore company is subject to a different tax and legal regime than its French counterpart.

What are the advantages of choosing one or the other?

There are many advantages to creating an offshore company rather than a company in France in a classic way. Among them:

Offshore companies benefit from a light taxation, where classic French companies impose large taxes and many taxes.
They cannot be sold but must be liquidated in case of sale or transfer.
The beneficial owner does not appear on any public document, which protects his anonymity until he wishes to reveal himself, for example by buying a property with it. However, this principle can also have disadvantages as some countries are known for their lack of transparency regarding foreign capital gains.
The constitution of an offshore company is faster and less complicated than that of a classic French company.

What are the disadvantages between the two?

It goes without saying that depending on the structure chosen there will be disadvantages! If there were only advantages it would be too good! The classic company in France has many disadvantages, that’s why some people often choose to go offshore. Too many taxes, too many taxes, complex regulations and a legislation too strict and sometimes too vague.

But don’t be fooled, an offshore structure also has its drawbacks! An offshore company must respect the laws in force in its country of residence, which can be both expensive and time consuming for it to ensure compliance. In addition, due to their assumed anonymity, agreements between two parties who do not know each other are difficult to conclude if they do not have a traditional business relationship or if they are already known by one of the parties

The user benefits from this type of structure by being able to find legal forms adapted to his projects but without necessarily having specific expertise. Indeed, he will always rely on professionals such as lawyers or accountants who regularly deal with this type of transactions.

In conclusion and advice

In conclusion, it will be up to you to see according to what you expect from a company! However, you should know that different structures exist depending on their location if you decide to go through company formation in Hong Kong in Asia or in Delaware in the USA, but also depending on its activities. Do not hesitate to contact experts on the subject so that they can help you find the best solution for your project!