EnerSys Purchases Industrial Battery Business from Douglas Battery Manufacturing Co.

EnerSys, the world's largest manufacturer, marketer and distributor of industrial batteries, announced that it has purchased the industrial battery business from Douglas Battery Manufacturing Co., headquartered in Winston-Salem, N.C. for an undisclosed sum. Douglas Battery, which has been manufacturing and selling industrial batteries and chargers since 1960, has a strong customer base with well-developed marketing and distribution channels, which EnerSys plans to keep intact.

"The extensive breadth of EnerSys' product and service offerings is further enhanced by the purchase of Douglas Battery's industrial battery business," said John D. Craig, chairman, president and chief executive officer of EnerSys. "As we have demonstrated with our previous acquisitions, our strategy is to continue to build quality market share by acquiring companies which will produce solid results. The acquisition of Douglas Battery, combined with our recent acquisition of Oerlikon Battery, based in Switzerland, and our investment in Altergy Systems, a developer and manufacturer of fuel cells, are projected to generate over $100 million annually in new revenues for EnerSys."

EnerSys will maintain the Douglas Battery brand and designs for the line of industrial batteries and chargers, and will retain the existing sales team, manufacturer's representatives and distributors. Douglas Battery Manufacturing Co. President Charles T. Douglas will become the Douglas Battery brand's vice president of sales for EnerSys.

"Our family and employees have worked hard since the 1920s to establish the Douglas Battery brand as one of high-quality products and service," Douglas said. "I am very pleased that EnerSys will continue to use our brands and battery designs, and I am confident that the brand's high standards will be maintained."