On civil construction projects, cordless tools do much of the heavy lifting. Saws, grinders, drills and rattle guns all rely on charged batteries, whether the crew is on a road upgrade, a drainage installation or a major infrastructure build. When those batteries are flat, missing or sitting in a ute at the other end of the site, work stops.
The Makinex Mobile Charge Pod gives civil contractors one secure, mobile place to store and charge cordless tool batteries on site, so crews start every shift with power ready to go.
The Battery Charging Problem on Civil Sites
Civil sites are spread out, and they change week to week. Batteries end up scattered across vehicles, site sheds and temporary work fronts. Chargers get plugged into whichever temporary power board is closest, leads trail across walkways, and gear from different subcontractors gets mixed up.
The result is time lost searching for batteries, waiting for a free charger and replacing equipment that has walked off site. Across a crew of ten or twenty workers, a few minutes each per day quickly adds up to hours of lost productivity.
Six Powered, Lockable Lockers in One Unit
The Mobile Charge Pod brings battery storage and charging into one central unit. It has six lockable lockers, each large enough for battery-bank chargers and a range of tool and battery brands. Every locker has its own protected 10 A double-pole twin GPO, so separate crews or subcontractors can charge their own gear securely.
The plugs sit outside the lockers, so electrical test tags stay visible to inspectors without unpacking equipment. Large openings in the locker doors allow ventilation and a quick visual check of what is charging inside.
Built to Move With the Work
Civil projects don't stand still. As excavation, pipe laying, kerbing and pavement works progress, the work front moves, and the charging point needs to move with it.
The Mobile Charge Pod weighs 74 kg and has forklift pockets, so it can be relocated around site as the job changes. It is made from tough, UV-stabilised, V2 fire-rated polyethylene rather than heavy steel, carries an IP33 rating, and complies with AS/NZS 3190 and AS/NZS 3012 as a Portable Socket Outlet Assembly (PSOA) for construction sites.
Safer Lithium-Ion Battery Charging in Victoria
Battery charging is a safety issue, not just a logistics one. WorkSafe Victoria warns that lithium-ion batteries can catch fire when they overheat, often due to damage or incorrect charging equipment, and that the smoke can be toxic.
Its guidance for employers includes:
- providing a dedicated charging area separate from where people work
- not storing or charging removable battery packs in offices or other spaces near people
- using original or approved chargers, and checking equipment and cables for damage
- keeping chargers away from emergency exits, direct sunlight, heat and moisture
For Victorian civil contractors, the Mobile Charge Pod makes it easier to set up a designated outdoor charging point away from site sheds, crib rooms and walkways, instead of charging batteries in vehicles, offices or on improvised power boards. It supports good practice but doesn't replace a site-specific risk assessment: each site should still confirm its charging location, fire controls and emergency procedures meet WorkSafe requirements.
Keep Your Civil Site Charged and Ready
Developed with and for Tier 1 contractors, the Makinex Mobile Charge Pod combines battery charging, equipment security and site organisation in one practical unit. That means fewer flat batteries, less lost gear and a safer, more controlled approach to charging on site.
Explore the Mobile Charge Pod or contact the Makinex team to discuss your site requirements.
