Batteries and chargers 34 www.aftermarketonline.net OCTOBER 2024 Battery manufacturer Clarios is investing around €200 million (nearly £170m) in its European plants to continuously expand its production capacities for advanced adsorbent glass mat (AGM) vehicle batteries starting in 2022. As of 2026, around 50% more units will be produced each year. In Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Clarios operates 13 production sites including two recycling centres. The investments announced on August 8 are part of Clarios’ strategy to invest globally in projects specifically focused on AGM production in the short-term, which allows Clarios in EMEA and its aftermarket brand VARTA Automotive to strengthen their leading position in this region by being able to deliver to customers even faster. The expansion creates around 150 jobs in modern plants in Germany, Spain, the Czech Republic and France. The automotive industry is changing fundamentally, driven by the trends of electrification, digitalisation and circularity, said Clarios. As platforms become increasingly complex and power-hungry, the need to develop advanced low-voltage systems capable of providing the energy needed for performance and safety, becomes even more crucial. The battery giant expects global demand for advanced low-voltage systems will grow by 7% annually up to 2030. AGM batteries from Clarios are essential for sustainable mobility. They ensure optimum performance in EVs and provide constant power for crucial safety and comfort functions in both EVs and modern commercial vehicles. In vehicles with a combustion engine, they enable fuel-saving functions such as start-stop technology. In Europe, Clarios is the undisputed market leader with its advanced battery solutions, which include VARTA Automotive. In seven out of 10 new vehicles with start-stop technology, it is Clarios’ AGMs that start the engine reliably. Furthermore, the xEV batteries for EVs, which were launched by VARTA Automotive last year, already account for 90% of electrified vehicles on European roads and are suitable for future models. The largest expansion of AGM capacity will be at the Hanover plant in Germany, which is also home to the European headquarters of Clarios. The company will use most of the investment to finance new assets and is also optimising processes and shifting the entire site, including case production, to advanced battery technologies. To create the necessary space, a significant part of the production of conventional batteries and the advanced EFB batteries for OE manufacturers has been relocated from Hanover to the Czech Republic. Additionally, plastic housing for AGM batteries and small parts such as plugs and handles will also be increasingly produced in the Czech Republic. The annual capacity there has increased significantly, which is based on an investment volume of several millions. Since the start of AGM production in 2002, more than 80 million batteries have been supplied from Zwickau. The recycling operation in Krautscheid, Germany, supports the AGM expansion with increased recycling of lead alloys for the grids used in AGM batteries. Krautscheid complements the capacity expansion in the production network for central Europe, which secures the supply to vehicle manufacturers in the region and in the aftermarket. An additional production cluster is located on the Iberian Peninsula. In the future, conventional and EFB batteries for OE manufacturers, which were previously manufactured in Hanover, will be produced at the Spanish sites in Burgos and in the battery case plant in Ibi. Equipment is being moved from Hanover and a further investment of millions will be made at the two Spanish sites. In addition, the plant in Guardamar, Spain, will also manufacture 50% more PowerFrame grids for EFB batteries and be equipped with an additional production line to do so, Clarios said. AGM is a further development of the lead acid battery. The electrolyte is bound within a glass fibre mat. This prevents electrolyte stratification, the main cause of faults in lead starter batteries; this significantly increases service life. An additional benefit of AGM technology is the very high charging capacity. Clarios unveils major battery investment boost Investments allow Clarios and its VARTA aftermarket brand to strengthen their leading position and serve customers faster
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