Renata Batteries Develops Zero Percent Mercury Button Cells In Advance of New Regulations
To help OEMs of portable medical and consumer electronic devices remain compliant with new laws banning the use of mercury in button cell batteries, the Renata Batteries division of The SWATCH Group (Switzerland) has developed a comprehensive line of 0% mercury silver oxide batteries. These batteries are used to power a wide range of devices, such as watches, medical devices including insulin pumps, glucose meters, surgical tools, heart rate monitors, computer battery back-up, RFID tags, keyless remotes, flashlights, laser pointers, children’s toys and talking books.
"Renata, as one of the world’s leading producers of miniature batteries, has been in the forefront of the move to eliminate the use of mercury in button cells," said Henry Kessler, President of Renata Batteries North American Headquarters. "We now have the full range of 0% mercury silver oxide batteries available, well in advance of the growing list of North American regulations, ensuring that our customers have a fully compliant mercury-free battery alternative available for all their new designs and replacement battery requirements."
In March of 2006, NEMA, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association of the US electrical manufacturing industry, announced its commitment to eliminate added mercury from button cell batteries by June 30, 2011. According to Kessler, Renata is the first manufacturer to release its full line of compliant silver oxide batteries into the North American market.
On July 1, 2011, laws enacted by the states of Connecticut, Rhode Island and Maine will become effective, making it illegal to sell devices powered by battery button cells that contain mercury, including all 1.4V zinc-air and 1.5V alkaline batteries, as well as 1.55V silver-oxide batteries. However, the Maine law initially limits the ban to five silver-oxide battery types (357, 364, 371, 377 and 379) until January 2015, when all button cell batteries must be mercury-free. NEMA has identified these five types as representing 80% of the mercury used in silver-oxide batteries.
Some 30 other states have also enacted or are proposing regulations addressing the use of mercury in batteries, meaning that OEMs must use 0% mercury button cells in their products if they are to be sold in the regulated states. As the leading OEM supplier to the European watch industry, Renata has offered a comprehensive line of mercury-free silver-oxide batteries since April of 2010.
