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Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Popular power bank recalls 490,000 products & suspends production after overheating risk revealed
All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue. It comes amid a growing concern for aviation safety as passengers carry more battery-powered items on flights Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A POPULAR portable power bank maker has recalled its products and halted operations. The recall by Romoss Technology, which is based in Shenzhen, China, comes just weeks after the country banned uncertified power banks on aircraft. 1 Scroll down to see the best power banks on the market Romoss has suspended production for six months after it was caught in a scandal over safety issues, according to Chinese media reports. The company has also recalled nearly 490,000 power banks from three models made between June 2023 and July 2024. Overheating risks It follows an investigation which found metal debris in their battery cells posed overheating risks. Romoss notified employees it was suspending operations from July 1 and reportedly gave them a furlough of a monthly salary – equal to 80 per cent of Shenzhen's minimum wage. READ MORE TECH NEWS UP IN SMOKE iPhone owners warned not to use power bank from popular brand over 'fire risk' The manufacturer has over 690 employees 'but only a small group involved in the recall incident is expected to continue working to ensure basic operations', a staff member told Yicai Global. The company has taken its e-commerce shops offline. It has also removed products listed on leading e-commerce platforms such as Temu. China's aviation regulator last month banned passengers from carrying power banks without Chinese safety certification markings or those recently recalled by manufacturers. The move, applicable to anyone boarding a flight in China, followed a series of global incidents involving lithium battery products overheating on planes. This included power banks. Beware phone 'heat' alert that reveals if your phone is broken The Civil Aviation Administration said power banks must clearly have the '3C', or China Compulsory Certification, marking to be allowed on aircraft. The certification is mandatory for products that may impact health, safety and environmental protection. On June 10, according to local media, Chinese authorities had temporarily suspended Apex Wuxi's 3C certification after it reportedly altered separator materials in battery cells. Apex Wuxi is one of China's leading producers of core power bank parts, which it supplies to Romoss and its rival Anker Innovations. The suspension prompted Romoss and Anker to recall a combined 1.2 million power bank units because of combustion risks. Lithium batteries in devices such as laptops, mobile phones, electronic cigarettes, and power banks can produce smoke, fire or extreme heat when manufacturing faults or damage cause them to short-circuit. Growing concern They are a growing concern for aviation safety as passengers carry more battery-powered items on flights. Last year, the US Federal Aviation Administration recorded three incidents of lithium batteries overheating on planes every two weeks globally compared to just under one a week in 2018. In January this year, South Korea said that a spare power bank was the possible cause of a fire that had engulfed a Busan Air flight to Hong Kong. Since that incident, airlines globally have been tightening power bank rules. Aviation rules generally say power banks should be carried in cabin baggage but increasingly airlines are banning their use on board and say they must be kept within view to spot any problems. The Sun has contacted Romoss Technology for comment.
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Popular power bank recalls 490,000 products & suspends production after overheating risk revealed
A POPULAR portable power bank maker has recalled its products and halted operations. The recall by Romoss Technology, which is based in Shenzhen, China, comes just weeks after the country 1 Scroll down to see the best power banks on the market Romoss has suspended production for six months after it was caught in a scandal over safety issues, according to Chinese media reports. The company has also recalled nearly 490,000 power banks from three models made between June 2023 and July 2024. Overheating risks It follows an investigation which found metal debris in their battery cells posed overheating risks. Romoss notified employees it was suspending operations from July 1 and reportedly gave them a furlough of a monthly salary – equal to 80 per cent of Shenzhen's minimum wage. READ MORE TECH NEWS The manufacturer has over 690 employees 'but only a small group involved in the recall incident is expected to continue working to ensure basic operations', a staff member told Yicai Global. The company has taken its e-commerce shops offline. It has also removed products listed on leading e-commerce platforms such as Temu. China's aviation regulator last month banned passengers from carrying power banks without Chinese safety certification markings or those recently recalled by manufacturers. Most read in Phones & Gadgets The move, applicable to anyone boarding a flight in China, followed a series of global incidents involving lithium battery products overheating on planes. This included power banks. Beware phone 'heat' alert that reveals if your phone is broken The Civil Aviation Administration said power banks must clearly have the '3C', or China Compulsory Certification, marking to be allowed on aircraft. The certification is mandatory for products that may impact health, safety and environmental protection. On June 10, according to local media, Chinese authorities had temporarily suspended Apex Wuxi's 3C certification after it reportedly altered separator materials in battery cells. Apex Wuxi is one of China's leading producers of core power bank parts, which it supplies to Romoss and its rival Anker Innovations. The suspension prompted Romoss and Anker to recall a combined 1.2 million power bank units because of combustion risks. Lithium batteries in devices such as laptops, mobile phones, electronic cigarettes, and power banks can produce smoke, fire or extreme heat when manufacturing faults or damage cause them to short-circuit. Growing concern They are a growing concern for aviation safety as passengers carry more battery-powered items on flights. Last year, the US Federal Aviation Administration recorded three incidents of lithium batteries overheating on planes every two weeks globally In January this year, South Korea said that a spare power bank was the possible cause of a fire that had engulfed a Since that incident, airlines globally have been tightening power bank rules. Aviation rules generally say power banks should be carried in cabin baggage but increasingly airlines are banning their use on board and say they must be kept within view to spot any problems. The Sun has contacted Romoss Technology for comment. Best power banks: At a glance The Sun's Tom Tyers narrowed down the best power banks to keep your devices powered up no matter where you are. Here are his best picks: Best overall: £89.99 £59.99 Best budget: £21 £15 Best for travel: Best for iPhone: £35.99 £26.99 Best for Android: Best for multiple devices: £89.99 £74.99
South China Morning Post
27-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Anker partners with Apple battery supplier ATL after massive power bank recall
Chinese charging peripherals maker Anker Innovations has forged a strategic partnership with battery maker Amperex Technology Limited (ATL), moving swiftly to secure a new battery cell supplier after jointly recalling more than a million power banks in one of the country's largest consumer electronics recalls in recent years. The Shenzhen-based gadget maker planned to purchase an initial batch of 45 million lithium-ion batteries from ATL, according to a statement published on Anker's website on Wednesday. The deal is a shift for Anker's supply chain as it seeks to restore consumer confidence in the safety of its products. Anker is 'deepening supply chain collaboration with a leading battery cell supplier to take a major step towards a premium consumer electronics energy solution', the company said. The move comes after Anker and rival Romoss last week recalled more than 1.2 million power banks, halting sales of affected models and urging customers to seek refunds or replacements. The companies attributed the recall to defective battery cells from an unnamed supplier, which posed overheating and fire risks. Earlier reports linked the defective battery cells to Apex Wuxi, a subsidiary of American battery maker Amprius Technologies and Wuxi Industrial Development Group. When asked, Anker would not confirm that Apex batteries were the source of the problem, but said it had ceased doing business with the company. Apex Wuxi is one of the top battery cell providers to Chinese power bank makers, according to consultancy Chongdiantiou, which focuses on the country's battery industry. The Romoss PAC20-392 and Anker A1681, two of the recalled products, both used Apex batteries, according to previous Chongdiantiou teardown reports.
