Banner repositions itself for the future with higher sales revenues

A new location in Thalheim for the business area industrial batteries

At the beginning of June, the Banner Group opened a new production plant in Thalheim bei Wels for industrial batteries. Approximately, EUR 10 million have been invested in the project and during the selection of this additional location, Banner deliberately decided against ground sealing and opted instead for existing office premises. This choice was made in order to correspond with the company’s environmental and sustainability policies.  

Thalheim should considerably boost the development of industrial battery production and be seen as a source of premium quality, high-performance energy storage solutions and powerful power packs for both mobile and stationary applications. These include everything from e-stackers and lifting platforms, self-driving transport systems, golf carts, safety and emergency power supply batteries for hospitals and power plants, signal systems and renewable energy supplies, to electrical wheelchairs, camping, marine and caravan use. The Thalheim bei Wels works has an initial workforce of 25 and in the coming ten years will be where Banner intends to make continual advances in the industrial battery field. The main focus in this regard will be on Germany and France.

Fit for the future with Agenda 2030  

The comprehensive changes in the automotive industry have prompted Banner to also reorientate.  With its Agenda 2030, the company has committed itself to facing the challenges ahead and has laid down a clear path into tomorrow.  Andreas Bawart describes this new corporate approach as follows, “We are analysing both the market and demand, and have a focus on our organisational, production and portfolio strengths. We also intend to intensify existing cooperations and open up new opportunities in Europe, Asia and other overseas markets.”   

In the future, starter batteries will continue to constitute core business area of Banner and the two largest segments in this field are comprised by starter batteries for first fitting and the aftermarket. At present, it can be assumed that in the coming years IPO business will decline somewhat, but the aftermarket will grow strongly.      

On the basis of this market estimation, Banner has extrapolated three main sales strategies:

• Firstly, there will be a high level of concentration upon AGM, EFB and truck batteries, which are all top quality products.
• Secondly, replacement business, which is already showing recognisable signs of sizeable growth, will be another focal point.
• Thirdly, Banner will further expand geographically and also step up its efforts in markets outside Europe. With this sales strategy, the company expects to be able to increase its revenues in the current decade. 

The Leonding location is to be considerably strengthened

In the past three years, Banner has spent over EUR 30 million on the development of its Leonding location and in order to push ahead with the Agenda 2030 in the appropriate manner, this process is set to continue. Andreas Bawart, “We intend to invest in order-related production, storage and logistics capacity, as well as the digitalisation and automation of our processes.” At the moment, the family-owned company has an export sales quota more than 95 per cent and supplies Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Volvo with innovative AGM technology.  In fact, start-stop batteries already constitute 30 per cent of its production volume and a major part of the company’s recent investments in Leonding have been in capacity for further growth in this technology of the future. Moreover, as Commercial CEO, Andreas Bawart, stresses, “Apart from Thalheim, we will be placing an emphasis on our headquarters in Leonding. Another production location, either in Austria or abroad, is not up for discussion.”      

An intensified focus on e-mobility

According to Franz Märzinger, Head of Sales and Marketing, “The pressure upon the combustion engine is clearly a development that Banner has to manage both now and in the future.” Amongst the automotive manufacturers there is a clear trend towards e-mobility, but as Märzinger says, “The new combustion engines coming onto the market still constitute a large portion of overall sales. In tandem with average vehicle use of ten to fifteen years, this means that the aftermarket for cars and trucks with combustion engines will continue to be sizeable. For example, at the moment there is no real alternative to the combustion engine in the long-distance truck segment and it is precisely here that the Banner Group sees major opportunities for starter battery growth in the years to come.”       

Outlook

Andreas Bawart sees a clear future scenario as emerging from the profound shifts in the automotive industry, “The advance of e-mobility is apparently unstoppable, but we will first know if it triumphs in a few years time.” It is a fact that with around 90 per cent, standard lead-acid batteries still constitute the lion’s share of the global battery market. Furthermore, in future 12V lead batteries will continue to be necessary for the supply of the electrical systems in e-vehicles and estimates within the industry point to yearly growth rates of two to three per cent. Andreas Bawart, “Therefore we are committed to the systematic development of the traditional starter battery and are already working on its next generation. We invest roughly ten million euros in research and development activities annually and our primary aim is and will remain the retention of a sustainable and economically sound business approach. With the Agenda 2030, we as the Banner Group are facing up to the guiding principle of viability and the challenges of the digital revolution.”