Post Record Results For FY 2015/2016

With Banner Batteries enjoying invigorated performance here in the UK under the direction of Country Manager, Lee Quinney, the Banner Batteries Group has posted record results for the financial year 2015/16 (April 1 2015 to March 31 2016).

Taking centre stage in the performance indicator stakes was an 8% rise in the sale of starter batteries to 4.1 million units. Representing an increase of more than 300,000 batteries over the previous year, the sales success was largely attributed to the continued strong demand for Banner’s EFB (Enhanced Flooded Battery) for start-stop applications, and was pivotal to Banner securing an equivalent 8% increase in consolidated sales revenue to €258 million. Industrial batteries likewise made a sizeable contribution to this result, with sales of €28 million, which were 7% up on the comparable figure from the preceding year.

On the start-stop front, Banner is claiming that sales continued to improve in ‘record-breaking fashion’ in its last financial year, and not just in relation to upper and premium vehicle classes deploying absorbent glass mat (AGM) technology, but the supply of EFB batteries that now find themselves fitted on many middle class Volkswagen Group vehicles. In addition to enjoying an established presence in the OE arena, Banner’s business in the European aftermarket also showed a flourishing upward trend.

Commenting on the results from a UK perspective, Lee Quinney said: “The UK obviously played its part in helping Banner as a group achieve record performance figures and this is reflective of the structure that we have put in place in the UK over the last 12 months. In addition to building a new, experienced and highly motivated sales team, we have invested a great deal of time and effort developing our customer base by working in close cooperation with the major buying groups, independents and the garage sector. Indeed this is equally applicable when it comes to the CV and leisure vehicles markets (caravans and motorhomes), which have also proved buoyant.

“With the highlights of the last year majoring on Banner receiving the prestigious IAAF (Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation) CV Supplier of Excellence award and enjoying 17 of its products being verified through the NCC’s highly acclaimed Product Approval Scheme, it is our objective to ensure the brand continues to build on the home front. As such, we intend to maintain a focus on Banner’s leading O/E pedigree, not to mention the company’s capabilities when it comes to the latest AGM and EFB technology platforms,” he added.

Ongoing Major Investment

During the past five years, Banner has invested a total of more than €40 million in its Linz-Leonding plant. In addition to bolstering its production capacity of 4.5 million starter batteries, Banner now has the ability to accommodate the seasonality of battery sales with greater flexibility. Furthermore, in order to meet increasing demand for environment-friendly start-stop batteries, Banner has introduced an enlarged and fully automatic high-bay warehouse capable of storing 10,000 additional pallets. Supplementary investments are also in the pipeline.