Industrial Battery Maker to Build New Facility in China

EnerSys, a Reading, Pa.-based manufacturer of industrial batteries, announced that it is finalizing plans to construct a new battery manufacturing facility in Shuangqiao District, Chongqing, China.

The 400,000-square-foot facility will employ more than 1,100 people producing reserve-power batteries to serve the telecommunication, utility and uninterruptible power supply industries as well as other standby power customers, according to the company.

When completed in 2011, the plant will provide capacity to meet increasing customer demand in the Chinese and other Asian markets.

EnerSys has manufactured industrial batteries in China for more than 20 years and currently operates three manufacturing plants in China, on the south and east coasts. The new plant will be located nearer to the geographic center of China in a fast-growing industrial area, and has good access to labor and transportation, the company noted.

We continue to experience significant growth in demand for our products in China and throughout the Asian markets and we remain committed to meeting the needs of our customers in the region, said John Craig, chairman, president and chief executive officer of EnerSys. We anticipate that this investment will allow us to double our current Asian revenues by generating approximately $150 million in additional sales when the facility is fully operational.

"We have been especially pleased with the help and cooperation we have received from the district government as we have progressed on our plans for this new plant. Many of our employees in China have worked diligently on this project that I believe will prove to be beneficial to both our company and our customers.

EnerSys said it will hold an official groundbreaking ceremony before the end of its first fiscal quarter ending in June, after final approvals are received.