Tag: 3BL

We believe in creating a safe and healthy working environment for all employees, contractors, and visitors across our locations. This commitment is reflected in our rigorous risk assessments, ongoing training programs, and adherence to global safety standards.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Approximately 0.24 Total Incident Rate (TIR) ⁽¹⁸⁾
• Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) ⁽³⁶⁾

STRATEGIC APPROACH

Our commitment to health and safety is deeply rooted in our organization, with active support from our CEO and senior leadership team. This commitment extends to fostering an inclusive environment where employees, their representatives, and contractors are actively engaged in shaping our safety journey. We believe in meaningful consultation, so their valuable input drives continued improvement and strengthens our shared dedication to a healthy and safe workplace for everyone.

We are committed to addressing issues related to health, safety and the environment. Part of that effort involves engaging and empowering our colleagues to live safely, both inside and outside the workplace.

STRIVING TO ENSURE WORKPLACE SAFETY

Our ambition is to achieve an accident-free workplace. We aim to maintain safe practices, environments, and ways of working for everyone who interacts with Mondelēz International. Our safety guiding principles include creating a safe and healthy work environment for all our employees through a proactive approach that prioritizes exceeding applicable health and safety regulations, investing in our people and facilities, and fostering a strong safety culture.

Our comprehensive Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) policies, standards, and non-negotiable commitment to continued improvement help us to maintain a culture of safety and compliance throughout Mondelēz International. We implement rigorous risk assessments, utilize tools and metrics to track progress, invest in comprehensive training and communication, and conduct regular HSE assessments to evaluate our performance.

WORK, PLAY, LIVE, SAFE PROGRAM

Our “Work, Play, Live, Safe” program promotes a culture of safety for everyone on our sites, encompassing employees, contractors, full-time and part-time staff, and even visitors. We extend this commitment across our locations, including factories, distribution centers, tech centers, and other facilities. By providing guiding principles for everyday actions, we aim to provide safe practices, environments, and ways of working for everyone who interacts with Mondelēz International, including:

• Nothing we do is worth getting hurt for.
• All injuries and occupational illnesses can, and must, be prevented.
• We will continually strive for zero incidents.
• Everyone is responsible for safety; leaders are accountable.
• Working safely is a condition of employment.

BUILDING A CULTURE OF WORKPLACE SAFETY

• Our commitment is to create a workplace where safety is paramount, reducing risks across four key areas:
  • Occupational Health: Protecting our employees from long- term health issues related to their work environment.
  • Personal Safety: Fostering a culture of safety by implementing safe work practices and standards that prioritize the well-being of every individual.
  • Process Safety: Enhancing the design, management, and control of potentially hazardous processes within our operations.
  • Vehicle Safety: Promoting safe driving practices and improving vehicle-related activities across all functions and operations.

ACTION PLANS AND PROGRESS

WORKPLACE SAFETY PROGRESS

Mondelēz International is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of HSE performance across our global sites. Our commitment is reflected in the following key areas:

OUR INTENT

• Compliance: We are committed to meeting or exceeding all applicable HSE regulations.
• Continuous Improvement: We strive to continuously improve our HSE footprint through investments in our people, processes, and facilities.
• Interdependent HSE Culture: We cultivate a culture of safety where everyone takes responsibility for their own well-being and the well-being of others. This culture is essential for achieving an accident and occupation illness-free work environment and for protecting our planet.

OUR ACHIEVEMENT

Long-Term Impact: In 2024, our continued focus on leadership, capability building, and HSE assessments drove improvements across most safety performance indicators. We achieved a Total Incident Rate (TIR) of approximately 0.24 significantly below the global benchmark of 0.5.⁽¹⁸⁾ Our Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) remained consistently low, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to workplace safety.

Long-Term Impact: Through dedicated efforts in safety culture and Total Safety initiatives, including emergency preparedness procedures, we have seen a reduction in Total Recordable Incidents across operations over the past 10 years.

OUR PRIORITIES FOR 2025

Despite our positive performance, seek continued improvement and are addressing the following areas in 2025:

High Severity Incidents: We are implementing solutions to further improve behaviors, controls, and capabilities across manufacturing and commercial operations to prevent future high severity incidents.

Priority Standards: We are intensifying our focus on closing high- risk gaps, enhancing protection and prevention systems to further strengthen our HSE performance.

M&A Integration: We are investing in resourcing and capabilities to drive integration of Mondelēz International standards and work processes within recently acquired companies.

Commercial Safety: We are revising policies and standards to further enhance safety practices in our warehouses, offices, and vehicle fleet operations.

We remain dedicated to making a positive impact on the world and the communities where we do business, to provide a safe and sustainable future for all.

GOALS AND METRICS

WORKPLACE SAFETY GOAL
Severity and Total Incident Rate (TIR): Continued focus to reduce Severity 1 safety incidents to zero

2024 PROGRESS
	2024
Total Recordable Incidents (#) (36)	297
Lost Time Incidents (LTI) (#) (36)	217
Severity 1 Incidents (#) (36)	9
Total Incident Rate (TIR) (#) (18)	0.24
Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) (#) (36)	0.86

View the full 2024 Snacking Made Right Report. 

 

^{(18) 2024 reported information includes data from acquisitions such as Ricolino, Chipita, Clif bar and Give & Go, which differs from previous years. We adjust our goals to better align with reporting requirements and industry best practice, and focus our Health & Safety metrics on Severity (unchanged) and TIR (Total Incident Rate).}

^{(36) 2024 reported information includes data from acquisitions such as Ricolino, Chipita, Clif bar and Give & Go, which differs from previous years. We are transitioning to absolute indicator numbers in our disclosures to provide a clearer and more accurate representation of safety performance. In previous years, data was presented as a percentage increase or decrease.}

Originally published on Aflac Newsroom

A little over a week before Tennessee faced Syracuse in the Aflac Kickoff Game, Hudson watches a Friday morning Tennessee football practice from an exclusive sideline spot. Taking in the sounds of buzzers and coaches’ voices, highlighted by accents of orange and white, Hudson, joined by his parents and two siblings, celebrated an early 13^th birthday gift.

As Tennessee prepared for its football season, Hudson’s daily preparation took on a different perspective. Undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumor detected last December, Hudson was tasked with strategizing a challenging game plan at just 12 years old. Though chemotherapy and proton therapy are very present in his life, today’s presence was about being a kid again.

Taking a brief hiatus from appointments at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, Hudson embraced all the orange eye candy accentuated by championship trophies, the NFL wall and, of course, the Peyton Manning Room. Amid all the memorabilia, an even more special moment was about to take place.

Just as practice wrapped, Tennessee Football Head Coach Josh Heupel ended the session a little differently. With My Special Aflac Duck® in hand — a free-of-charge robotic companion that provides comfort and joy to children during their cancer treatment — Coach Heupel greeted Hudson and introduced him to the team.

Surrounded by good vibes and smiles, there wasn’t a Volunteer football player that walked away without greeting their special guest for the day. Though determination describes the players on the field, they caouldn’t help but commend Hudson’s own competitive nature in his medical journey.

Hudson’s story and grit are special but, unfortunately, not uncommon. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 15,000 children under the age of 20 are diagnosed with cancer each year in the U.S.

As the nation’s longest-running neutral-site game on opening weekend, the Aflac Kickoff Game blends passion for football with dedication to making a difference. Through Aflac’s partnership with Peach Bowl Inc., the game places an emphasis on purpose and the support of participating teams’ communities through the Kickoff for a Cause initiative while also benefiting the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

In the first three years of Aflac’s sponsorship of the kickoff game, Kickoff for a Cause has helped raise more than $1.2 million while bringing much-needed awareness to pediatric cancer at the start of September, National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

This milestone year marks 30 years of Aflac’s commitment supporting pediatric cancer care and research, with more than $191 million contributed since support began. You can also make a difference by visiting give.choa.org/aflac to donate today.

Aflac WWHQ |1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999

Aflac New York | 22 Corporate Woods Boulevard, Suite 2 | Albany, New York 12211

Continental American Insurance Company | Columbia, SC

Z2500845 Exp. 9/26
 

HAMILTON, Bermuda, September 17, 2025 /3BL/ – Bacardi, the world’s largest privately held international spirits company, has received the official ‘Hecho en Mexico’ (Made in Mexico) seal for its renowned tequila brands, PATRÓN and CAZADORES. This distinction, granted by the Mexican Ministry of Economy, underscores the commitment of Bacardi to quality, authenticity, and promoting the prestige of Mexican products globally.

The award ceremony took place at the offices of the Ministry of Economy in Mexico City, with the official seal presented by María De Haas Matamoros, Director General of the Office of the Ministry of Economy, to Daniel Aliaga, Managing Director for Bacardi in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The event, which was also attended by Andrea Genoveva Solano Rendón, Head of the Regulation, Competitiveness, and Competition Unit of the Ministry of Economy, was part of the ‘Hecho en Mexico’ program, a strategic initiative promoted by the Presidency of the Republic. The program’s main objective is to promote and enhance the prestige of Mexican-based companies and brands both nationally and internationally. Awarding PATRÓN and CAZADORES with this seal is testament to the leadership of Bacardi in the production of high-quality tequilas and its contribution to the country’s economic development.

“On behalf of Bacardi, we are incredibly proud to celebrate the Mexican heritage and craftsmanship of our exceptional tequilas: PATRÓN and CAZADORES,” said Daniel Aliaga. “This distinction not only recognizes the quality of our brands, but also reinforces our commitment to the country, its culture, and its people. As a family-owned company that has been around for more than 160 years, doing the right thing is fundamental to us, and that includes ensuring our Made in Mexico brands continue to be a source of global pride. Our purpose at Bacardi is to ‘Make Moments Matter,’ and this is, without a doubt, one of those moments.”

“Awarding the ‘Hecho en Mexico’ seal to Bacardi for its PATRÓN and CAZADORES brands is a clear example of the talent and quality our country offers to the world,” added María De Haas Matamoros. “This initiative seeks to recognize and empower companies that, like Bacardi, contribute significantly to the economy and project an image of Mexican excellence internationally.”

Andrea Genoveva Solano Rendón commented: “The ‘Hecho en Mexico’ seal reflects the quality and talent of Mexican industry, boosting competitiveness and pride in what we produce. Today, Bacardi once again demonstrates its commitment to Mexican excellence.”

The history of Bacardi in Mexico dates back to 1931, when it became the first country outside of Cuba to produce BACARDÍ rum. Today, BACARDÍ rum is the number one spirit in Mexico and the Bacardi portfolio has grown to include other premium spirit brands like BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin, GREY GOOSE vodka, DEWAR’S Blended Scotch whisky, ILEGAL mezcal and ST-GERMAIN liqueur.

With more than a quarter of its global workforce located in Mexico, Bacardi enjoys a deep connection to the country, where world-renowned tequilas are produced, such as PATRÓN, the number one ultra-premium tequila globally, and CAZADORES, one of its emerging and growing brands. Hacienda PATRÓN is recognized for setting a new standard of quality, with 60 hands touching and perfecting each bottle before it leaves its facility in Jalisco. 

Bacardi maintains a firm commitment to innovation, reflected in recent launches such as PATRÓN Cristalino and PATRÓN El Alto – and corporate sustainability, with initiatives such as GLOBALG.A.P. certification for agave farmers and participation in projects such as Charco Bendito for water replenishment. 

-Ends-

For more information: 
Gerardo Arriola
JeffreyGroup
gerardo.arriola@jeffreygroup.com

Drink responsibly

About Bacardi Limited
Bacardi Limited, the world’s largest privately held international spirits company, produces, markets, and distributes spirits and wines. The Bacardi Limited portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDÍ® rum, PATRÓN® tequila, GREY GOOSE® vodka, DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, MARTINI® vermouth and sparkling wines, CAZADORES® 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSON’S® Scotch whisky, D’USSÉ® Cognac, ANGEL’S ENVY® American straight whiskey, and ST-GERMAIN® elderflower liqueur. Founded more than 163 years ago in Santiago de Cuba, family-owned Bacardi Limited currently employs more than 8,000, operates production facilities in 11 countries and territories, and sells its brands in more than 160 markets. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. Visit http://www.bacardilimited.com or follow us on LinkedIn

Tucked along a two-lane highway in southern Illinois, just a few miles apart, sit Covia’s Elco and Tamms plants. This dynamic duo of facilities has a long history of delivering success, all while keeping service and safety at the heart of everything they do.

From Competitors to Teammates

While the Elco and Tamms plants now strive to support Covia’s customers together, they weren’t always on the same side. The two facilities have each been in operation for more than 100 years in southern Illinois, strategically located near a unique geologic formation of microcrystalline silica near the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. 

While the Elco and Tamms plants were run by separate companies for decades, that rivalry came to an end when Covia acquired both facilities a few years apart in the ‘80s. The Tamms plant was eventually transitioned into a processing facility for nepheline syenite, which is used for Covia’s MINBLOC® HC High-Clarity Antiblock additive and MINEX® functional filler. Meanwhile, Elco continues to actively mine and process silica into IMSIL® microcrystalline silica fillers, which are used to support products ranging from paint coatings and polymers to cement casings used for oil and gas wells.

Today, the two plants work in tandem to deliver reliable mineral solutions. A team of 55 team members support both sites, creating a level of camaraderie even though the plants focus on different minerals. 

Quality Products, Global Impact

Another trait that the Elco and Tamms plants share is pride in making quality products that customers want to buy. Both plants work with minerals recognized for their unique and valuable properties.

According to Plant Manager Bleve Willoughby, the quality of these products is a reflection on the hard work and dedication of the team.

“People here feel like what they’re doing matters,” Bleve explains. “Our team takes pride in making a premium product that makes a difference for our customers.”

The team also strives to improve their own internal processes. In 2024, the Elco plant was able to achieve a 20% increase in output of fine-grade products by modifying airflow at a key point in the process. This improvement led to reduced operating times and associated costs to meet customer demand. Bleve and his team also developed and implemented a new operating scenario to support the modified process.

Between the quality of the products and the improved efficiencies, the Elco and Tamms plants have several satisfied, repeat customers from far beyond their region. Elco’s silica, for example, is shipped all over the world, including Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Asia.

“It’s cool to think that we’re here in a really small, rural area and we’re making something that goes to customers all over the world,” said Bleve. “They don’t have anything comparable in their area of the world, so they come to us here in Illinois.”

Award-Winning Safety Standards

Product quality is a notable highlight for the team members at Elco and Tamms, but so is the way they go about safely producing those products. The plants strive to keep silica dust exposures at a minimum each day and make safety-based decisions to ensure that team members can return home in the same condition in which they arrived.

“The people run the plant, and it’s their actions and their everyday behaviors that keep us safe,” Bleve explained. “We can engineer safer solutions and put guards where required, but at the end of the day it comes down to people making the right choices for us to be safe.”

Those choices have led to tangible results. According to Bleve, it’s been more than 11 years since a lost-time incident. The Elco plant earned the company’s President’s Safety Award in 2022, an honor that recognizes the Covia plant that achieves the highest level of safety performance. 

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

In addition to supporting each other, the team members at the Elco and Tamms plants also strive to help the community that surrounds them. Covia is proud to empower team members to pursue volunteering opportunities, and the Elco and Tamms team has a history of going above and beyond for the region.

Every plant has different takes on volunteering, as Covia encourages people to support causes that resonate with them. For multiple individuals at Elco and Tamms, that includes volunteering for the local fire department. According to Bleve, two different team members serve as the chiefs of their respective fire departments, while others find their own ways to give back to their community.

“They volunteer because they want to make a difference,” Bleve stated. “They don’t know these people when they go to their houses 

Looking Ahead

The Elco and Tamms plants may hail from a small area, but their impact stretches far and wide. With unique products, innovative processes, and team members who care deeply about safety and community, they embody the very best of Covia.

BETHESDA, Md., September 17, 2025 /3BL/ – This fall, Tandem Global will be taking part in some of the most important conversations on climate and nature at NY Climate Week, Trellis Impact ’25 and COP30 Biodiversity Days.

“For decades, we’ve worked alongside companies to design site-level projects that restore habitats and engage communities, while also shaping strategies that connect nature, climate, and corporate growth,” said Anna Willingshofer, Chief Science and Innovation Officer for Tandem Global. “These stories—where business meets sustainability in ways that deliver real impact—are exactly what we’ll be bringing into the dialogue.”

Beginning next week in New York, Tandem Global is participating in a panel session alongside our member company, Ecolab, at the following session hosted by Anthesis Group:

Future-Proofing Climate & Nature Action: Lessons from the Nexus of Water, Biodiversity, and Business Value

Date: Tuesday, Sept. 23, 3:00pm – 3:45pm Eastern

Location: Chelsea Walls, 231 10th Avenue New York, NY 10011

With Emilio Tenuta, CSO of Ecolab and Tandem Global Chairperson, and Rob Campbell, Director of Consulting, Tandem Global

More information and register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/future-proofing-climate-nature-action-tickets-1608305919299

For Tandem Global, the timing couldn’t be more urgent. The climate conversation is evolving. Emissions reduction can’t happen without also protecting and restoring the ecosystems that make decarbonization possible—forests, soils, watersheds, and pollinators. At Tandem Global, we stand at this intersection, helping business understand that nature is not an optional add-on to climate action, but its foundation.

That’s why these gatherings matter to us. They’re about joining peers and partners to move the conversation forward with a simple but powerful message: climate and nature are one story—and business must help write it.

If you’ll be in New York, San Jose or Belém, we’d love to connect. Reach out, join the conversation, and let’s explore how we can work together to drive meaningful change.

@NY Climate Week, Sept 22-25

Rob Campbell, Director, Consulting

Monica Leal-Keller, Chief Marketing Officer

@Trellis Impact ’25, Oct 28-30

Erin Allegro, Sr. Manager, Business Development

Shaun Clark, Sr. Consultant

Margaret O’Gorman, CEO

Jacque Williamson, Sr. Consultant

Anna Willingshofer, Chief Science and Innovation Officer

@COP30 Biodiversity Days, Nov 17-18

Anna Willingshofer, Chief Science and Innovation Officer

About Tandem Global

Tandem Global (formerly Wildlife Habitat Council and World Environment Center), provides the know-how and the network to move business and the environment forward, together. Across sectors and at all levels of its 100+ member organizations, Tandem Global works to facilitate long-term and lasting impact on all aspects of our natural world. Tandem Global connects leading thinking with practical solutions that positively impact climate, nature, and water. From field operations to boardrooms and beyond, corporate leaders turn to Tandem Global for impact strategies and resilient solutions that can support a better future. Tandem Global is headquartered in Washington, D.C., USA, with locations across the U.S., in Latin America and Munich, Germany. For more information visit tandemglobal.org.

2025 marks the 10th year of the FedEx Uniform Recycling Program in Brazil — a meaningful initiative that transforms old uniforms into cozy blankets, bringing comfort to both people and pets in need. Over the past decade, this program has recycled approximately 95,000 pieces of uniforms and created 37,000 blankets. These blankets have been generously distributed to 60 NGOs and institutions, extending warmth and care throughout communities across Brazil.

In the accompanying video, hear directly from FedEx team members alongside representatives from Salvation Army Brazil and Cão Sem Dono as they share more about the positive impact this recycling program has made. 

Click here to learn about FedEx Cares, our global community engagement program.

Trane Technologies’ circularity practices focus on optimizing resource life. Through processes like sustainable design, resource sharing, reuse, refurbishment and recycling, we reduce our carbon footprint at every step of our value chain.

A pivotal stage of the circularity cycle occurs when equipment is already in the field, performing critical work, day after day. Our remanufacture and repair programs are key levers in that cycle, bringing used products or components back to a like-new condition. These service offerings breathe new life into customer assets, preserving their embedded value by eliminating the need to manufacture and buy new components and cutting carbon at a fraction of the cost.

Circularity in action: Remanufacturing to support decarbonization and business growth

Our remanufacturing and repair operations started almost 50 years ago. They now reach around the world. We restore used parts through a careful process, including disassembly, cleaning, repairing, testing and reassembly. In 2024 alone, our Global Aftermarket teams remanufactured more than 10,000 total components, including compressors, motors, controllers, electronic components, starters and more.

Reducing the need for new units decreases reliance on raw materials and new parts, lowers operating costs for our customers and helps reduce vulnerability to supply chain disruptions. Remanufacturing also improves component availability and reduces customer lead times. As part of the service offering, a remanufactured compressor ships within 24 hours, cutting customer downtime and enhancing after-sales service value to our customers.

Our Thermo King business operates a similar remanufacturing and repair program in the Netherlands, offering remanufactured parts for truck, trailer and marine refrigeration. Through extensive reverse logistics and regional partnerships, the program offers remanufactured alternatives for a wide range of components across our parts portfolio, with new options being regularly added.

While supporting our decarbonization strategy, the program also generates business value. Today, many customers expect manufacturers to have a remanufacturing option. Of Thermo King’s global parts revenue, more than 10% is generated by remanufactured parts. And in 2022, when the industry faced a shortage of digital controllers across climate control systems, refurbished alternatives offered a solution for these hard-to-find parts.

With this increasing demand, our businesses have been able to bolster procurement capabilities and turn circularity into a competitive edge for sustainable businesses.

Circularity and environmental stewardship

Our remanufacture and repair efforts underscore a simple truth: the most sustainable (and cost-effective) product is often the one already in use. By preserving high-value components, we advance resource efficiency, reduce new manufacturing demand and create local skilled jobs, all essential components of a sustainable and resilient business model.

Remanufacturing and repair programs like these also support our key decarbonization strategies, playing a direct role in achieving our 2030 Design Systems for Circularity Sustainability Commitments; our Gigaton Challenge to reduce one billion metric tons of carbon emissions from our customers’ footprint; and our commitment to reduce embodied carbon in our products by 40%.

These efforts illustrate how Trane Technologies turns circularity into action, leveraging decarbonization technologies and forward-thinking strategies to support sustainable solutions for our customers. As we improve circularity efforts across our value chain, we create real value. This shows why decarbonization matters for people, profit and the planet.

Learn more about how embracing circularity can drive business value in our series on this topic.

Explore careers that make an impact at Trane Technologies.

By Sandra Cipriani, Product Manager

In high-stakes applications like EV battery development, even minor measurement drift can lead to major consequences. Calibration isn’t just a checkbox—it’s your assurance of accuracy, safety, and compliance.

Battery testers are the backbone of your validation process. But without regular calibration, their precision can quietly degrade—putting your product quality, regulatory standing, and customer trust at risk. With KeysightCare, calibration becomes more than maintenance—it becomes a strategic safeguard. In this post, we’ll explore why calibration matters, what’s at stake when it’s skipped, and how proactive service through KeysightCare can keep your test data—and your reputation—rock solid.

Batteries have become ubiquitous — and essential — to our daily lives. A day doesn’t go by when I’m not dependent on several devices that run on increasingly smaller, more efficient, and more powerful electronic batteries, from wearables, to smartphones, to electrical vehicles and so much more. They enable portability and flexibility in our lives, while also playing key roles in contributing to a cleaner energy future.

These days, battery performance can make or break commercial success of an electronic product. As such, test has become critical to ensure batteries perform as expected “in the field.” And with test, the age-old question always comes up: do I really need to calibrate my battery test equipment? Today, I’m speaking to Christopher and Jeff, both working in the Service Delivery Organization of Keysight, to explore the if, and why, of battery test calibration.

Sandra: Good morning, Christopher and Jeff. Thank you so much for joining me.

Over the years, I’ve heard so many people say: “I paid a lot of money for my battery tester; I expect it to be in specification for the life of the equipment.” Do you agree? Is the need to calibrate inversely proportional to the quality of test equipment?

Christopher: Thank you for having me, Sandra. This is a topic that’s near and dear to my heart, and that I talk to a lot of customers about. The short answer is no. Calibration should never be seen as optional, nor should it be viewed as a reflection of the quality of test equipment. In fact, quite the opposite is true.

It’s a fact of life that all electronic test equipment must be calibrated. Typically done annually, calibration is necessary to ensure that the equipment continues to provide the performance specifications that you require—and the performance you paid for when you made your equipment investment. As time progresses, all test equipment will slowly drift out of specification. Calibration with adjustments and optimizations, returns it to operating within its specifications.

In fact, it’s the highest-performance equipment that is the most critical to keep calibrated, especially because you paid a lot of money to get that performance, so it’s critical to maintain it.

Sandra: And is it specifically important for battery test?

Jeff: Most definitely! Your battery tester contains a charger (source), discharger (load), voltmeter to measure battery voltage, and an ammeter to measure battery current. For your battery tester, power source control must be carefully maintained, for example, to ensure a charger doesn’t overcharge a battery. Likewise, your battery tester is used where accurate measurement is needed, such as to report on the measured capacity of a battery. By following the calibration schedule for your testers, you can ensure your equipment performs at the desired peak performance.

Sandra: And what’s the downside if someone decides not to calibrate, or let’s too much time lapse?

Christopher: Once the calibration period expires, you can’t rely on the battery tester to provide its stated performance as this performance is neither guaranteed nor specified past the calibration interval. You are therefore risking your equipment drifting out of spec. This drift will mean that voltage sources might no longer source the voltage to the required accuracy, resulting in the wrong voltage output. Likewise, drift will cause measurements to have additional error such that you can’t trust the readings.  Ultimately, you won’t be able to have confidence in the results, or worse, you might damage your battery under test.

Sandra: Can you say more about electronic drift – why and how it happens?

Jeff: Sure, put simply, electronics drift due to time and stresses of operation. While the test equipment was in perfect calibration when it left the factory, components inside will drift over time due to many factors, including mechanical shock (like dropping the instrument or roughly moving the system) or heat cycling (as the equipment heats up and cools down during normal operation). The purpose of performing calibration at set intervals is to ensure the battery tester is returned to its best calibrated state  before  it drifts out of specification.

Sandra: So how does drift specifically impact battery test?

Christopher: If we look at a battery voltage measurement as an example, say we want to measure the open circuit voltage (OCV) of a lithium-ion cell. The cell has an OCV of 3.5000V. This is the true OCV. Now we want to measure the OCV using the battery tester. Take a look at the table in Figure 1 (above) that shows how to determine the measurement error.

The issue is that without calibration, it’s possible to introduce even greater measurement error. If you were relying on this voltage measurement of OCV to terminate a charge step when measuring capacity, the capacity determination would be wrong because you stopped the charge step either too soon or too late due to the wide error in the OCV measurement. The voltage error then propagates into other measurements. Figure 2 (above) illustrates this point and shows how the measurement specification compares to the true or actual OCV.

For example, if the out-of-calibration measurement is +/- (0.7% of measurement + 8 mV), the error on the true 3.5000 V OCV jumps up from +/- 3.74 mV when in calibration to +/- 10.45 mV when out of calibration, resulting in a measurement that could be anywhere in the range of 3.48955 to 3.51045 V.

Sandra: That is a very significant deviation. So how do you recommend battery test equipment be calibrated?

Christopher: For large testers, the calibration service will likely be performed in your test facility, as it may not be feasible to move the testers. On-site calibration services can be pricey, so for benchtop battery testers, it may be more cost-effective to return the equipment to a qualified service center.

We caution about self-calibration. It is similar to deciding to fix your own car. Do you have the time, skills, and resources needed? If so, fixing your car is more cost-effective than having a mechanic fix the car. But if you don’t know how to make the repair, or need to buy a set of expensive tools, or simply don’t have the time, then maybe it’s better to let the mechanic do it.

Sandra: Christopher and Jeff, thank you so much for your time and expertise. As you know, Keysight offers certified, award-winning calibration services, including KeysightCare Enhanced support plans to take the work out of remembering when and how to calibrate. I’ll include the information below for our readers. Thanks again for sharing your experiences with us. Are you ready to discuss your calibration options?

About Jeff Massaro:
Jeff is a dedicated Field Service Engineer specializing in battery testing at the Keysight Huntsville office. His career began with an impressive eight-year tenure in the Navy, where he honed his skills working on Radar and Ultra High Frequency (UHF) applications before transitioning to the calibration lab.

In 1990, Jeff joined Hewlett-Packard at the Atlanta service center, where he focused on oscilloscopes and provided on-site calibration services for customers. His expertise and commitment led him to the field service organization, and in 1995, he relocated to Austin. There, he supported customers with Electric Magnetic Test (EMT) and semiconductor test equipment, further solidifying his reputation as Senior Field Service Engineer.

About Christopher Morton:
Christopher Morton is the EMEAI Business & Operating Manager in the Keysight Solution Service Delivery Organization. He began his career in 2000 as a graduate at Agilent, where he worked as a Test Technician and later as a Manufacturing Engineer on the 8960 Wireless Communication Test Set. In 2005, he transitioned into a Field Service Engineer role, focusing on In-Circuit and End-of-Line Functional Test solutions. Over the years, Christopher developed a strong foundation in the commercial aspects of the business, which led to his progression into management. He now leads the onsite Solution Service Delivery Organisation for Keysight across the EMEAI region.

Originally published by Sustainability Magazine

Subaru is putting sustainability at the heart of its messaging, spotlighting hybrid and electric models such as the Forester Hybrid and the Trailseeker EV.

These vehicles are marketed not just as eco-friendly options but as capable companions for exploration.

By combining advanced powertrains with rugged design, Subaru presents a compelling option for drivers wanting to reduce their environmental impact without compromising on performance or adventure-readiness.

Read more here on Sustainabilitymag.com

Tapping into different voices, perspectives, and experiences helps businesses solve problems, reveals new opportunities to grow, and encourages contributions that better support people and communities. At Henkel North America, diversity is a path to progress, innovation, and impact. Our employees and partners are united by our purpose: Pioneers at heart for the good of generations. They collaborate to tackle challenges, find solutions and open new perspectives – allowing us to deliver products, services, and innovations that enrich and improve everyday life.

We invite you to “meet” our pioneers in our series, “Pioneers for Good.”

Introducing Jonathan Espinosa

Jonathan Espinosa, Supply Chain Finance Controller for Henkel North America, embodies how love and courage can ignite meaningful change. This attitude has not only helped him shift challenges into growth opportunities but also encourage others to live authentically.

Beginning his career as an operational controller for Henkel in Mexico in 2016, Jonathan moved to the US in 2023 to work for the supply chain organization. Jonathan’s career is a testament to his deep commitment to embracing every challenge with fortitude.

“Every position I have held has challenged me either personally or professionally and each experience has led me to growth,” said Jonathan.

Fostering Community in the Workplace

Jonathan looks for ways to create opportunities for employees to bond and foster unity. In Mexico, he organized events such an open mic format where employees could express ideas and share experiences in a safe space.

When Jonathan transferred to a new role in the US, he brought his spirit of love and authenticity along with his quest to do his part in building the culture of belonging at Henkel. He joined the PRIDE Employee Resource Group (ERG) to collaborate with his new colleagues in creating opportunities for connection.

For Jonathan, ERGs help Henkel to build inclusive communities that empower employees to bring their full authentic selves to work. The ERG network at Henkel thrives on collaboration, offering members and allies a chance to connect across communities.

With Jonathan’s leadership, the ERG has organized simple events such as cupcakes and conversation on Valentine’s Day as well as larger scale events including employee participation in the NYC Pride parade to celebrate the power of love and inclusion.

Through his time working with Henkel’s PRIDE ERG and exposure to other ERGs, Jonathan has developed a deeper appreciation for Henkel’s larger network of resource groups. Although not a formal member of UNIDOS, Henkel’s Hispanic/Latinx ERG, Jonathan shares his Hispanic heritage and celebrates the group’s mission while continuing to spread his message of love and courage.

“Diversity is an asset, not a liability. When you show who you truly are, you activate the power of diversity to strengthen relationships and build community in the workplace. You should never be afraid or ashamed of who you are.”

Jonathan Espinosa, Supply Chain Finance Controller for Henkel North America

Leading With Love, Allows Unity to Follow

At the heart of Jonathan’s advocacy is a simple message: love is the antidote.

This philosophy aligns with Henkel’s sentiment of “Love Unites All”, a notion that Jonathan also carries with him in his day-to-day life. By leading with love, Jonathan is able to advocate for his community, live true to himself, and encourage others around him to do the same.

Jonathan’s ability to use love as an antidote provides courage for the next generation to continue in his path. He aims to help shape a future where more people can be their authentic selves not solely in the workplace but in every facet of life. Jonathan’s journey shows that when individuals are empowered to be themselves, they open doors for those to come.

Jonathan says, “being open and vocal about your identity allows others to feel safe to do so as well.”

See Jonathan and Henkel colleagues celebrating Pride across the globe and sharing the message Love Unites All.