Latest news with #Romoss
Scottish Sun
10-07-2025
- 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
10-07-2025
- 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
The Sun
10-07-2025
- Business
- The 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 banned uncertified power banks on aircraft. 1 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. 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.
South China Morning Post
09-07-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Can China's fastest-growing firms save themselves from themselves?
This is the second story in a three-part series exploring the domestic economic challenges China faces as it navigates an unprecedented trade war with the United States. In this piece, we examine the no-holds-barred battles within the country's emerging industries that have sent prices off a cliff and prompted official comment. Overnight, it seemed China's power bank industry had run out of juice. It started with a series of high-profile incidents this year, where certain versions of the portable charging stations burst into flames on flights. In late June, the country's aviation regulator issued an emergency ban, preventing passengers from taking the devices onto flights if they did not meet certain safety standards. As piles of discarded battery packs grew at airports around the country, several manufacturers announced they would be recalling their products, declaring more than one million units prone to overheating with repeated use. One leading firm – the Shenzhen-based Romoss – said over the weekend that it would suspend production for six months, and closed its stores on the country's leading e-commerce platforms. The company's future is uncertain. Eventually, the problem was traced to its source: a battery cell supplier had relocated production to another factory, which had illegally substituted separator materials to cut costs. The consequences of such a race to the bottom seem inevitable. While the average price of a Romoss power bank has dropped from 140 yuan to around 70 yuan (US$20 to US$10) in the past four years, the cost of a quality battery cell usually ranges from 40 yuan to 50 yuan. These shrinking profits, combined with fierce intra-industry competition, have forced many manufacturers into a position where they have no choice but to compromise quality.
The Star
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Chinese power bank maker suspends production after recall, aviation ban
The future of Romoss was thrown into uncertainty after its products were found to have serious defects that could lead to fires. — SCMP One of China's biggest portable power bank makers has suspended production for at least six months and closed its stores on major Chinese e-commerce platforms after a massive recall of its products and the decision by the country's civil aviation authority to ban unlicensed power banks on flights. Shenzhen-based Romoss Technology, which sells its products in dozens of countries around the world, notified its employees that the company would suspend operations for six months starting on Monday, according to a report by Chinese media outlet Jiemian on Sunday. Meanwhile, its online shops on e-commerce platforms Taobao, and Pinduoduo have been taken offline. Products listed on websites serving overseas clients, including Temu, were also offline as of Monday. Taobao is operated by Alibaba Group Holding, which owns the South China Morning Post . The future of Romoss was thrown into uncertainty after its products were found to have serious defects that could lead to fires. On June 16, the company recalled nearly 500,000 portable chargers from three models due to problems with battery cells manufactured between June 5, 2023, and July 31, 2024. Romoss was not the only power bank maker that recalled its products. Anker, based in Changsha, capital of central Hunan province, last month recalled over 712,000 units across seven power bank models. The company attributed the issue to an unidentified supplier, stating that 'unauthorised changes to raw materials' compromised insulation and led to overheating with repeated use. China Business News reported that after consultations with the State Administration for Market Regulation, all 3C certifications on Romoss power banks had been suspended, and the company ceased production of all lithium battery products. China Compulsory Certification, or 3C, is a mandatory safety and quality certification system for products sold in China. Chinese air travellers were caught off guard when the Civil Aviation Administration of China issued a ban on unlicensed lithium-powered charging banks, following the overheating incidents. The ban came into effect two days after the notice was issued on June 28. Hong Kong restricted carry-on power banks effective April 7 after a series of power bank-related safety concerns. Passengers were prohibited from storing power banks in overhead luggage compartments. In March, a flight from Hangzhou to Hong Kong was forced to divert to Fuzhou after a fire broke out, reportedly from an overheated power bank. – South China Morning Post
