News

Exide Technologies to Invest $8.4 Million in Updating Its Facility in Spain

February 08, 2001 by Jeff Shepard

Exide Technologies (Reading, PA) announced plans to invest $8.4 million in updating their Malpica, Spain, manufacturing facility. The company wants to convert it from an exclusive producer of after-market transportation batteries to one which manufactures both industrial and transportation batteries. Exide plans to produce TEBUS Front-Access, sealed-technology industrial batteries and AGM sealed-technology industrial blocs in addition to the Exide Orbital Select automotive battery at Malpica.

Initial production is scheduled for April 2001. Industrial battery capacity will increase from 2,000 blocs per week at start-up to 11,000 per week in 2003 when the capital investment is completed. Exide reports that the additional capacity is required to meet the growing demand of telecom-equipment suppliers for third-generation wireless networks.

Craig Muhlhauser, Exide president and COO, said, “We are pleased that customer demand for our high-quality, sealed-technology industrial batteries in Europe, and global demand for our unique, cylindrically wound Exide Orbital Select automotive batteries warrants the conversion of Malpica." He added, “The network power market is continuing to grow at double-digit rates. AGM sealed-technology, industrial bloc batteries are the first choice for backup solutions in today's Internet and wireless-driven voice, data and multimedia networks."