United Broadcast Facilities Chooses Anton/Bauer For Worldwide Production

July 13, 2009

Source: Anton/Bauer

HyTRON 140 and Dionic 160 Batteries Offer Reliability, Performance and Extended Power

Whether production crews are covering local news stories or facing such extreme conditions as climbing up the famous K2 Mountain or heading into the jungle for a month-long shoot, United Broadcast Facilities, a leading full-service ENG rental and production facility, ensures that its customers worldwide are fitted with just the right gear for the job at hand. That’s why United Broadcast Facilities selected Anton/Bauer’s HyTRON 140 and Dionic 160 Logic Series Batteries to provide the crucial combination of extra power, control and reliability required for diverse and demanding production environments.

“We support productions all over the world with our cameras and crew, so this means that the Anton/Bauer batteries we stock are going to the most remote places on this earth,” says Kees Knepper, technical manager at United Broadcast Facilities. “On a normal day, we have approximately 45 ENG crews on the road, and they use at least five batteries a day. Reliability is a key concern for us – you can buy an expensive and high quality camera but it won’t work without a proper battery. The Anton/Bauer batteries are very reliable, so we don’t have to worry that our €65.000 camera systems will stop working due to power failure.”

First using Anton/Bauer batteries in 1988 after making the switch from unreliable brands, United Broadcast Facilities has had a long-standing relationship with Anton/Bauer, but this purchase marks one of the most significant investments the facility has made yet in the latest HyTRON 140 and Dionic 160 Logic Series Batteries.

“We have enjoyed working with United Broadcast Facilities for over two decades,” says Shin Minowa, vice president of marketing and business development for Anton/Bauer. “The HyTRON 140 and Dionic 160 continue to be some of the most innovative yet cost-effective batteries on the market. Backed with our customer service and field support available around the world – including support from Alphatron, our distributor in the Benelux – these batteries are a perfect addition to the Anton/Bauer equipment United Broadcast Facilities is already offering its customers.”

The HyTRON 140 and Dionic 160, weighing in at 2.5kg and 1.5kg respectively, are part of a class of batteries designed to ease the additional weight of a battery on the camera operator. The Dionic 160 is incredibly lightweight, while the HyTRON 140 provides an increased weight/power ratio and optimizes balance, giving users working with “short” cameras peace of mind over potential discomfort.

“The HyTRON 140 has proven to be very robust and reliable, and it solves a weight problem which occurs with the latest generation of HD cameras,” says Knepper. “With the decreasing overall length of the camera body and the increasing weight of the HD wide-angle lenses, the HyTRON 140 offers the opportunity to balance out the weight at the back of the camera for increased mobility. A bonus is that the HyTRON 140’s NiMH cell technology also allows us to circumvent the strict transport restrictions on Li-ion batteries.”

Each battery targets specific production needs, with the Dionic 160 offering military-grade technology and the HyTRON NiMH with new cell technology. Both batteries are designed to handle the power consumption demands of today’s high definition equipment and on-camera lighting systems.

To ensure reliable performance, all Anton/Bauer’s Logic Series Batteries are compatibile with their InterActive Charging Systems.

“We did an extensive test several years ago of batteries and chargers from a range of manufacturers, over a range of prices,” says Knepper. “As a result, we are still convinced Anton/Bauer makes the most robust and smartest chargers around. Nowadays, the real problem is making a good charger for the battery and Anton Bauer has solved that. They have been in the business long enough to really understand what’s needed in the field.”

The HyTRON140 (14.4v 140Wh NiMH battery) measures 12.06 x 7.37 x 13.84 cm and can be used with HMI portable lights. The Dionic 160 (14.4v 160Wh Li-ion battery) measures 9.53 x 13.34 x 10.16 cm. Both batteries feature Anton/Bauer’s signature MAXII warranty and are compatible with current regulatory requirements, including CE.

Submit a Company

Submit News

Submit a Job

Submit an Event