Antares
Where it all began. . .
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Antares began as a new start-up business in 1992 based upon a recognition by the original founders that the specialist vehicle builders and remote power manufacturers could benefit from techniques which were commonly in use with industry and telecoms to improve batteries, battery charging and battery management, thus making things possible that were not previously.
This grew to include additional aspects of auxiliary electrical power, such as the provision of "mains" electricity on-board vehicles with our own inverter, and for more power, silent diesel generators, and automated task management.
Over the years Antares have become the leading engineering solutions company for the specialist vehicle market and have served many blue chip clients and government organizations, including the armed forces. We have created many innovative solutions for our customers which then become more widely available.
Antares were a significant partner to Trinity House in their solarisation program of the UK lighthouses by designing a unique single stage HID lamp driver that allowed the lighthouse to use a 35W HID bulb.
In 1997 Antares began their relationship with London Ambulance and Mercedes-Benz to create a reliable three battery-bank power system to eliminate non-starts, and provide reliable power for all the systems that keeps an ambulance working, using techniques which have since been copied and adopted by the industry. This system is now "3rd generation" and has evolved into the ASM3 advanced which is not vehicle specific, and gives a battery life of up to 5 years.
Antares were the first to promote the use of priority split charge devices (without diodes). At the time this was pretty revolutionary, but more importantly, it removed the 0.6V-drop that diode system have - and it's this 0.6 volt drop that meant a diode based system could never fully charge a second (auxiliary) battery. Antares also pioneered the use of specialist deep cycle GEL batteries because, when looked after correctly they offer longest service life, and can be run down to a lower voltage each cycle, meaning that you can get more out each time making them the most cost effective solution for cyclic applications. As time moved on we have added extra functionality to our split-charge systems have increased in functionality to provide on-board jump-start (Assured start) and battery protection, and provided "single-box, easy-fit" solutions, aimed at the professional customer/integrator.
Since those days Antares have gone from strength to strength and have ISO9001:2008 certification by the prestigious BSI, and are well on the way to getting SC21 accreditation.
More recent milestones
2006: began supplying individual vehicle APUs to the MOD via a Prime, and have now sold over 1500 units
2008: designed, created and supplied the warn and inform incident messaging system for the Environment Agency and these are now in use, as an integrated part of local flood warning alerts for when water levels are rising
2009: developed and produced 300Amp battlefield APU system for an air transportable ECM vehicle for the MOD - these are now in production and in service in theatre.
2010: upgraded the 2006 APU with several hundred now in service
2011: joined ADS, showing our commitment to that sector, and to outstanding quality levels. Accreditation expected before the end of the year
In 2011 have been granted VCA approval for our products
As well as producing solutions at the very highest level, we provide professional products such as split-charges, inverters, on-board chargers,AC inlets, batteries and much more for thousands of integrators and users in the UK and overseas who insist on the best.
Where to in future?
In the short term we want to expand our AAI programme so that more people benefit from our robust solutions installed by class-leading installers and integrators.
Antares has also been a leading advocate for use of PLC style multiplexing on vehicles and have an unrivalled CANbus-based offering for task management, control and HUMS.
We are currently engaged with carbon reduction technologies for use in specialist vehicles and off-grid – playing our part in a sustainable world, so join our mailing list for new technologies and partners to emerge as they become viable.
This grew to include additional aspects of auxiliary electrical power, such as the provision of "mains" electricity on-board vehicles with our own inverter, and for more power, silent diesel generators, and automated task management.
Over the years Antares have become the leading engineering solutions company for the specialist vehicle market and have served many blue chip clients and government organizations, including the armed forces. We have created many innovative solutions for our customers which then become more widely available.
Antares were a significant partner to Trinity House in their solarisation program of the UK lighthouses by designing a unique single stage HID lamp driver that allowed the lighthouse to use a 35W HID bulb.
In 1997 Antares began their relationship with London Ambulance and Mercedes-Benz to create a reliable three battery-bank power system to eliminate non-starts, and provide reliable power for all the systems that keeps an ambulance working, using techniques which have since been copied and adopted by the industry. This system is now "3rd generation" and has evolved into the ASM3 advanced which is not vehicle specific, and gives a battery life of up to 5 years.
Antares were the first to promote the use of priority split charge devices (without diodes). At the time this was pretty revolutionary, but more importantly, it removed the 0.6V-drop that diode system have - and it's this 0.6 volt drop that meant a diode based system could never fully charge a second (auxiliary) battery. Antares also pioneered the use of specialist deep cycle GEL batteries because, when looked after correctly they offer longest service life, and can be run down to a lower voltage each cycle, meaning that you can get more out each time making them the most cost effective solution for cyclic applications. As time moved on we have added extra functionality to our split-charge systems have increased in functionality to provide on-board jump-start (Assured start) and battery protection, and provided "single-box, easy-fit" solutions, aimed at the professional customer/integrator.
Since those days Antares have gone from strength to strength and have ISO9001:2008 certification by the prestigious BSI, and are well on the way to getting SC21 accreditation.
More recent milestones
2006: began supplying individual vehicle APUs to the MOD via a Prime, and have now sold over 1500 units
2008: designed, created and supplied the warn and inform incident messaging system for the Environment Agency and these are now in use, as an integrated part of local flood warning alerts for when water levels are rising
2009: developed and produced 300Amp battlefield APU system for an air transportable ECM vehicle for the MOD - these are now in production and in service in theatre.
2010: upgraded the 2006 APU with several hundred now in service
2011: joined ADS, showing our commitment to that sector, and to outstanding quality levels. Accreditation expected before the end of the year
In 2011 have been granted VCA approval for our products
As well as producing solutions at the very highest level, we provide professional products such as split-charges, inverters, on-board chargers,AC inlets, batteries and much more for thousands of integrators and users in the UK and overseas who insist on the best.
Where to in future?
In the short term we want to expand our AAI programme so that more people benefit from our robust solutions installed by class-leading installers and integrators.
Antares has also been a leading advocate for use of PLC style multiplexing on vehicles and have an unrivalled CANbus-based offering for task management, control and HUMS.
We are currently engaged with carbon reduction technologies for use in specialist vehicles and off-grid – playing our part in a sustainable world, so join our mailing list for new technologies and partners to emerge as they become viable.
We are large enough to provide a comprehensive service to you, but still small enough not to lose the personal touch
Why Antares?
