Banner remains loyal to lead batteries

Banner remains loyal to lead batteries

The 2023/24 financial year (April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024) presented the Banner group with challenges. With sales of 4 million starter and electrical system batteries and sales of 302 million euros, the company recorded a decline of around one percent compared to the previous year. This development must be viewed against the background of a challenging market environment. "The energy crisis in connection with the war in Ukraine and the associated inflation shaped the financial year. Increased competition from Asian manufacturers pushing into the European market, as well as the increasing complexity of the supply chain and the energy crisis, are putting the automotive industry under pressure," explains Andreas Bawart, commercial director of the Banner Group. Despite these challenges, the Automotive business unit continues to rely on proven lead-acid technology, which guarantees reliable delivery thanks to in-house production in Leonding.

Bawart notes that the initial euphoria for electric cars has waned and a certain disillusionment has set in. “Many first-time buyers of electric cars realize that promised ranges are not being achieved and that public charging options are still inadequate,” said the Banner managing director. “Regardless of this, more than 90 percent of electric cars will continue to use a 12 V on-board battery using proven lead-acid technology,” adds Bawart, predicting further market growth for lead-acid batteries of one to two percent annually over the next ten years.

In the past three years, the Banner group has invested more than 25 million euros in the development of the company headquarters in Leonding. Banner is meeting the challenge of the shortage of skilled workers by setting up a modern training workshop and the “Apprenticeship from 15” program, which will come into force at the end of 2024. The first electrical engineering technicians will begin their training at Banner in the fall. The company also supports the next generation of its employees through internal training and close cooperation with higher technical schools. The group of companies currently employs a total of 750 people across Europe.

Sustainability and resource-saving use along the value chain are central topics for the Banner Group. The company is committed to sustainable transformation and attaches great importance to compliance with ESG (environmental, social and governance) criteria. More than 95 percent recycled lead is used in the production process for starter and electrical system batteries and up to 80 percent recycled polypropylene is used for the battery boxes. In addition, the sulfuric acid collected from used batteries is processed into sodium sulfate, which in turn is used to make detergents and glass. The Banner Group looks to the future with mixed feelings. “Our strategic steps underline our determination to respond to current requirements, but the difficult conditions in Austria make it increasingly difficult to implement this strategy successfully,” summarizes Andreas Bawart.