Corporate History

Cadex Electronics Inc. was established in 1980 in Vancouver, Canada. Isidor Buchmann, Founder, President and CEO, recognized that the full potential of nickel-cadmium batteries was not being achieved and developed a battery analyzer to exercise and rejuvenate them. In its early days, the company operated under the name Buchmann Enterprises Inc. and all activities were conducted in a small room of the founder's residence. In 1985, after the registered trademark for the name Cadex was granted, the company changed the corporate name to Cadex Electronics Inc. Cadex is derived from "CADmium-EXerciser."


The strength of the early Cadex battery analyzers lies in “Recondition,” a proprietary program that restores nickel-cadmium batteries affected by memory. The Cadex 450 works in conjunction with the original charger and services batteries for GE two-way radios. Only a few units were sold. .

The modular Cadex 550services three batteries simultaneously; ten with the extension unit. The detachable Slave Modules are custom-built for each battery type. The Cadex 550 sold reasonably well and became the workhorse for many two-way radio users, including railways, public safety and oil companies.

A private company commissions Cadex to develop and manufacture a microprocessor-based fast-charger for the End-of-Train Unit. The ETU is a telemetry system that replaces the caboose on a freight train. This charger technology forms the basis for other Cadex products.

The Government of Canada awards Cadex with funds to assist in the development of a new battery analyzer system. The modular Cadex C6000 accommodates 16 Slave Modules to process 64 batteries unattended. The options include printer and bar code scanner.

The four-station Cadex C2000 provides a low-cost alternative to the modular C6000 system. Batteries that fall below the set target capacity are automatically reconditioned with the AUTO program. Additional battery service programs are PRIME and CHARGE. The battery stations are pre-configured and cannot be changed in the field.

To accommodate a growing diversity of batteries, Cadex releases the first fully programmable battery analyzer. The Science Council of British Columbia and the National Research Council of Canada assist with funds. Interchangeable battery adapters configure the analyzer to the correct setting; a menu function allows reprogramming.

As part of a five-year program for a US defense project, Racal Communications, now Thales Communications, commissions Cadex to build intelligent chargers and battery reconditioners. Cadex receives several awards, including two Supplier Recognition Awards for Outstanding Performance.

Cadex introduces the C7000 battery analyzer featuring the innovative SnapLock™ Battery Adapter system. This analyzer becomes the company's flagship and establishes a new global standard to which competitive products were compared.

Cadex reaches an agreement with Medtronic Physio-Control to design and supply intelligent chargers/conditioners that communicate with the battery through an SMBus. Cadex achieves international market recognition with a customer base in over 100 countries and receives the prestigiousBritish Columbia Export Award


Cadex publishes the first edition of Batteries in a Portable World - A Handbook on Rechargeable Batteries for Non-Engineers. A 300-page second edition is released in 2001. Mr. Buchmann's articles on battery technology appear in leading trade magazines in many languages.

Cadex engages in a partnership with Motorola to manufacture battery analyzers for distribution through Motorola's global network. In the same year, Mr. Buchmann is selected as a finalist in the Entrepreneur of the Year program.
Cadex received ISO 9001 certification. The company moves to the custom built Headquarters in Fraserwood Industrial Park, Richmond, a suburb of Vancouver, Canada.

Cadex introduced the Cadex C7200 and C7400 battery analyzers featuring QuickTest™. Using fuzzy logic, this advanced battery rapid-test technology checks the state-of-health of a battery in three minutes.

Cadex designed a series of advanced battery chargers for communications, medical and mobile computing applications. The SM Series chargers are based on the level-3 SMBus protocol. The off-the-shelf Universal Conditional Charger comes in one, two and six bays and can be adapted to many battery types. The UCC2 is built for vehicular use.

Cadex launches www.BatteryUniversity.com, an educational on-line resource that provides practical battery knowledge for engineers, educators, students and battery users alike. The papers address battery chemistries, best battery choices and advises methods make your battery last longer.


Cadex introduced the first battery rapid tester capable of measuring capacity, state-of-charge and CCA non-invasively. The invention is protected under the U.S. patent 6,778,913 entitled: Multiple model systems and methods for testing electrochemical systems.

Cadex is granted U.S. patent 7,19,542 entitled: Method and apparatus for battery testing, a method that allows battery testing using low frequencies; and U.S. Patent 7,072,871 entitled: Fuzzy logic method and apparatus for battery state of health determination.


In support of our international growth plans, Cadex opened an office in Nürnberg, Germany. In addition to Business Development and Sales, Cadex Electronics GmbH also conducts research. The shared activity with Cadex Headquarters satisfies both North American and European market requirements.

The four-channel Cadex C8000 is a laboratory battery testing system that examines battery safety circuits, verifies SMBus settings and captures load signatures for runtime simulations. The instrument performs complex battery tests in stand-alone mode or with a PC.

 

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