09 Sep 03. US battery provider Bren-tronics showed a number of new and recent products at the DSEi exhibition. An order received by the company shortly before the show by CECOM under its ‘Omni-Charger’ contract will integrate a solar panel into its charger range. The cells, supplied by Arizona based Global Solar Inc provide 12V DC input through an interface with a smart charger. This year the company began shipping its replacement for the BB-390B/U SINCGARS product the BB-2590 that provides 50% more capacity but with a reduction in weight from 2Kg to 1.3Kg. Another recent weight reduction has been the weight reduction for the Thales night vision system, which has reduced the weight from 680g to 460g a saving of 10% on the overall weight of the device itself of 10%. A new charger was also on display, the Portable Multi-Positive Charger that with the right adaptor can be used to support any battery from 90v to 265 volts including marine frequencies. New customers for the company in 2003 include Zeiss in Germany to support a night vision system and Marconi Selenia in Italy. A recent solution provided through its Omnibus contract worth US CECOM is the latest version of its HMMWV mounted PP-8481/U Charger On The Move, which equips US reconnaissance teams and provides support to all their battery power packs used by a team. Designed to provide battery charging while moving it supplier DC current from the vehicle and is capable of using AC power if required. Deliveries began last year with orders for several hundred more received this year. The company said that its was offering this solution to support the UK’s FIST and France’s soldier modernisation programmes.