Media Info Linz, May 8, 2012
Banner enters its 75th jubilee year in good shape
Starter battery sales steady at over 4 million AGM batteries for start/stop vehicles in great demand Record sales revenues of EUR 237 million from all business areas New customers secure stable business Banner leads the way in recycling/environmental protection
Banner can look back on a successful 2011/12 financial year. Sales of starter batteries, which constitute the company’s most important business area, again passed the four million mark and remained steady at a high level. Moreover, as a result of the strong demand for environment-friendly batteries for start/stop vehicles, sales revenues rose by over 5 per cent to EUR 237 million. During the past financial year 2011/12 (April 1, 2011 – March 31, 2012), Banner was able to sell over four million starter batteries and thus maintain the high level of the preceding year. Business with automotive manufacturers developed in a highly positive manner, especially with regard to the demand for environment-friendly batteries for start/stop vehicles. Banner is now supplying its innovative AGM batteries to Audi, BMW, Mercedes, VW and Volvo and the OEM sector currently provides a total of 30 per cent of all starter battery sales revenues. The main contribution to sales revenues continues to derive from replacement batteries. In February 2012 alone, the Austrian battery producer sold over 500,000 starter batteries, which was a company record. Above all, Banner profited from the unusually low temperatures in western and central Europe during the past financial year, although owing to the late arrival of the winter weather, the company was unable to compensate fully for the sales losses of the preceding months. In overall terms this led to a fall in replacement battery business, but as Andreas Bawart, Banner’s Commercial CEO explains: “Due to optimum warehousing, we were nonetheless able to maintain the smooth supply of our customers at all times. The management is again very grateful to the workforce for its full backing.” In the past financial year, the drive and stationary battery area again enjoyed record business with sales growth of some 10 per cent as compared to the previous twelve months. This growth was distributed equally between both area segments.
Contact: Günther Lemmerer, Marketing and PR Banner GmbH Banner Strasse 1;4021 Linz-Leonding (A) Tel. +43/(0)732/38 88 – 21550; Fax Ext. 61550 Mobile +43/(0)676/873 81 550 E-mail: guenther.lemmerer@bannerbatterien.com www.bannerbatterien.com
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Total business area sales revenues in the 2011/12 financial year were once more at a record level, rising 5 per cent to stand at EUR 237 million. The notable increase in top quality starter batteries, especially in the AGM and commercial vehicle segments, had a positive effect in this regard. Andreas Bawart: “We did not quite reach our targets in the 2011/12 financial year. For although we were able to reap the benefits of our development work and expanded capacity for environment-friendly start/stop batteries in the form of healthy growth, we nonetheless had to accept a slight fall in sales in the retrofitting market, which is part of our most important starter battery business area. ” As at March 31, 2012, the Banner Group had a workforce of 760 (20 people more than in 2010/11). This increase emanated largely from the AGM battery finishing line, which went into operation at the Linz-Leonding plant in 2011. R&D expenditure was also higher at EUR 7 million (a rise of EUR 1 million over the previous year) owing to the need for the further development of Banner lead-acid batteries for hybrid vehicles. Banner’s growth strategy will continue to be supported by additional product innovations. For example, since the late autumn of 2011, Banner has been selling the newly developed enhanced flooded battery (EFB). This technology is used mainly in smaller vehicles with simple start/stop systems. The start of cooperation with A.T.U. during the past financial year was of major significance and in the February of this year, the leading automotive component and services supplier supplemented its range with Banner’s Starting Bull product line. As a result of a brand strategy that has been pursued systematically for the past 75 years, Banner now numbers among Europe’s best known battery makes. This fact was confirmed by recent surveys carried out by German specialist magazines such as “auto motor und sport” and “AutoBild”. For example, Banner again occupied an excellent third place in the Best Brands 2012 listing of “auto motor und sport” A growing number of respected automotive manufacturers are also placing their trust in Banner’s recognised top quality for first fitting purposes. Andreas Bawart: “Our OEM clients have now been joined by Mercedes-Benz and here we envisage major potential for the future.” Severalvehicle brands are produced under the Daimler umbrella brand and at present, Banner is supplying Mercedes Trucks with the new Buffalo Bull SHD PROfessional and Mercedes Cars with the Running Bull BACKUP battery. “Green production” has long traditions at Banner and the company plant in LinzContact: Günther Lemmerer, Marketing and PR Banner GmbH Banner Strasse 1;4021 Linz-Leonding (A) Tel. +43/(0)732/38 88 – 21550; Fax Ext. 61550 Mobile +43/(0)676/873 81 550 E-mail: guenther.lemmerer@bannerbatterien.com www.bannerbatterien.com
Media Info Leonding numbers among the most modern starter battery production facilities in Europe. As a premium supplier, Banner manufactures in accordance with an environment management system, which adheres to the requirements of ISO 14001:2004. During the past ten years, all the environmental protection systems at the Linz-Leonding location have been extended beyond the obligatory maximum and in addition, as a founder member of the Starter Battery Environmental Forum (UFS), for the last 15 years Banner has ensured that valuable and expensive raw materials such as lead, sulphuric acid and polypropylene are returned to the production cycle. For example, up to 99 per cent of lead can be recycled and in Austria this material demonstrates the highest collection ratio of all the recyclable goods on the market. As far as the future of the European starter battery market is concerned, Andreas Bawart, Banner’s Commercial CEO, sees a complex picture: “In the main, the market is dominated by two opposing trends. On the one hand, in years to come, a large percentage of the automotive industry will rely on AGM and EFB batteries for stop/start vehicles during OEM business with the aim of reducing CO2 emissions and fuel consumption. However, on the other, the massive increase in mobility costs in Europe will result in stagnation in replacement battery sales. Nevertheless, Andreas Bawart is convinced that in the coming years Banner can continue to flourish with top quality and service and thus further consolidate its position. His résumé: “Our aim is sustained company stabilisation. At the same time, we will do everything to further improve the anchorage of our innovative start/stop products among out customers and thus step up our business levels.” Photo index: 1) “Green technology”: Banner remains on track for success with environmentfriendly batteries for start-stop vehicles. 2) The executive management enters the 75th jubilee year in top form. The Banner CEOs, Thomas (l.) and Andreas Bawart
All photos: Banner GmbH, reprints free. A reference copy is requested.
Contact: Günther Lemmerer, Marketing and PR Banner GmbH Banner Strasse 1;4021 Linz-Leonding (A) Tel. +43/(0)732/38 88 – 21550; Fax Ext. 61550 Mobile +43/(0)676/873 81 550 E-mail: guenther.lemmerer@bannerbatterien.com www.bannerbatterien.com
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Banner GmbH is an innovative, steadily expanding producer of top quality starter batteries. The company, which is based in Leonding, Austria, has been manufacturing batteries for all types of vehicles since 1937. The family-owned firm, which is headed by Andreas Bawart and Thomas Bawart, employs a workforce of around 760 across Europe. Banner produces and sells over 4.0 million starter batteries annually and thus numbers among the oldest, most experienced and important brands in the battery production field. Banner batteries are used for the first fitting of numerous models from Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Skoda, Volvo, VW, Kässbohrer, Liebherr, Caterpillar and Jungheinrich. In Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, the UK, Denmark, Poland, the Czech and Slovak Republics, Hungary, Russia, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey dealers are served via Group sales companies with a total of 28 branches. Moreover, Banner products are sold in more than 40 European, African and Asian states via direct importers. Future-oriented technology and outstanding quality underline the international reputation of these exemplary products with “buffalo power”, which are also characterised by the Banner logo. Further information and photos are available under: www.bannerbatterien.com
Contact: Günther Lemmerer, Marketing and PR Banner GmbH Banner Strasse 1;4021 Linz-Leonding (A) Tel. +43/(0)732/38 88 – 21550; Fax Ext. 61550 Mobile +43/(0)676/873 81 550 E-mail: guenther.lemmerer@bannerbatterien.com www.bannerbatterien.com