IDX Elite Powers 80 APTN Bureaus Worldwide ENG

Early in 2007, APTN became the first customer for ENDURA Elite batteries introduced by IDX Technology at IBC2006.
These, along with new chargers, have been distributed to APTN’s news cameramen who work out of its 80 bureaus around world that include many news hotspots including the Middle East and Asia.
Offering all the advantages of Lithium-Ion chemistry the 142Wh/9.6Ah Elite is the largest flight-friendly Li-ion – meeting IATA UN A45 regulations for easy unrestricted carriage. It uses two identical Power Cartridges that pack inside its rugged outer casing giving economic and ecological benefits as future replacement Power Cartridges can be used in the original casing. So the V-Mount and the management electronics are effectively recycled, lowering running costs. Future Power Cartridges will reflect the continued developments of Li-ion chemistry, most likely bringing yet more capacity to Elite.
Harry Hood, Equipment Manager at APTN, stated: “The order is a part of our cyclical equipment replacement programme. The Elite offers us longer runtimes in one battery. Also it’s more environmentally friendly as we can replace just the cells, and recycle the rest of the battery. We have been using IDX for a while and so these new Elites drop into our existing infrastructure of chargers.”
The order, placed with Ortus reseller Top-Teks, included 150 Elite batteries. There were also 20 VL-4S 4-channel simultaneous chargers to complement APTN’s existing stock. The batteries are mainly used with Sony DSR-570 and 450 camcorders.
Asked for any reaction from his 80 bureaus Hood said: “I only hear when things don’t work. I’ve heard nothing.”
(SP)