September 26, 2009
Crown Battery to Increase Manufacturing Capacity
By 30% and Add Up to 30 New Jobs
FREMONT, OH – (Sept. 26, 2009) – Fremont-based Crown Battery has announced that it is increasing SLI battery manufacturing capacity by 30%. This growth is in response to increased demand for high-performance batteries for electric vehicles, golf cars, floor care machines, aerial equipment, and renewable energy systems. The expansion will create up to 30 new jobs at Crown's existing facility. New jobs at the Fremont plant include assemblers, quality assurance technicians, and engineers.
According to Hal Hawk, CEO and President of Crown Battery, the company's continued growth is great news for Fremont and Northwest Ohio. “Crown Battery is fortunate to be able to draw on the community's educated, motivated workforce. The expansion will bring more good jobs to the community at a time when many companies are downsizing,” said Hawk.
To ramp up production, Crown is adding a fifth assembly line that will operate on a two ten-hour shift basis. The new line includes automated work cells and advanced material handling systems, and will be housed in the existing 225,000 square-foot Fremont plant.
Increased demand for high-performance batteries for “green” electric vehicles and renewable energy applications has given Crown Battery an unprecedented opportunity for growth. For example, Club Car, one of the world’s top golf car manufacturers, depends on Crown Battery's rapid manufacturing response and efficient delivery. Explains John Connell, Vice President - SLI Products Group, “Crown's SLI Group capitalized on this opportunity with its high-performance batteries. Crown deep cycle batteries deliver many advantages that are unmatched in competitive terms. These advantages have helped Crown to compete effectively – in North America and throughout international markets.”
Keeping growth local has been one of the keys to Crown Battery's success, and the current expansion is not the first time the company has made sure jobs stay in Ohio. In 2007, Crown acquired certain assets of C&D Technologies’ Motive Power Division – including the company’s manufacturing operations based in Mexico. Citing the skill and dedication of the labor force stateside, Crown Battery moved production to Fremont. Hal Hawk says, “We are pleased that we could increase our competitiveness by moving production from Mexico to Fremont. We are excited to provide more job opportunities once again, and we are moving ahead with confidence. Crown Battery remains committed to keeping jobs local.”
January 12, 2009
Crown Battery - Investing in Ottawa County
with “Green” Renewable Energy
FREMONT, OH. January 12, 2009 – Fremont, Ohio based Crown Battery Manufacturing Company announced an investment in renewable energy with the selection of a new manufacturing facility that features off-grid electrical power generating capacity. The new facility is located in the Lake Erie Business Park in Port Clinton, Ohio in Ottawa County.
Hal Hawk, CEO and President of Crown Battery states, “The new plant fits our strategic growth plans for a number of reasons. Most notably, this project and other future investments take advantage of the renewable energy resources available in Ottawa County. Off-grid electrical power generated by both solar and wind energy sources will help Crown Battery maintain its competitive advantage through lower manufacturing costs. We are excited to come into Ottawa County.”
James E. McKinney and David Fahrbach, the owners of the Lake Erie Business Park, are pleased with the opportunity to partner with Crown Battery. “We believe that quality manufacturing space, convenient access, and green energy are a winning combination,” said Fahrbach. McKinney agreed, “Crown Battery is an innovator, an industry leader, and a leader in the field of renewable energy. We look forward to working with such a professional team and facilitating their expansion at the Lake Erie Business Park.”
Crown Battery is already “Renew-ABLE” with its current energy storage products in mining, EV, marine, and alternative energy applications worldwide. These products are manufactured on-grid at Crown Battery’s Fremont, Ohio plant.
The new expansion will create a few jobs initially in development with a significant upside to further job growth. “In ten years, our company has grown from 288 to 445 employees, in 11 locations in two countries. This is just the next step in our strategic plan that includes investment in our community and employees. We plan to be around for a long, long time,” added Bill Bessire, Senior Vice President.
In November of 2007, Crown Battery purchased limited assets from C&D Technologies of Blue Bell, PA. “As a result of this transaction, manufacturing jobs were transferred from Mexico to Fremont, including more than 50 new jobs in Sandusky County,” said Mark Kelley, Vice President of Sales – Motive Power.
“The development of clean and green power is important to both Crown and its worldwide customers as we pursue one of our goals in energy cost reduction. Additionally, it just makes sense for our business model,” notes John Connell, Vice President of Sales – SLI Products Group.
January 23, 2008
Today Crown Battery has launched its C-LineBattery.com website. This site includes the newest product information from the C&D asset purchase. Products include C-Line, V-Line, Libra and Ferro Series Chargers.
November 8, 2007
Today the new Crown Battery website was launched. This site utilizes new technologies such as PHP and Flash which were previously not utilized by www.crownbattery.com. The site now utilizes a left side navigation bar, design for resolutions 1024x768 or 1280x1024, and includes updated content. We hope to update with greater frequency, and bring exciting news and information to you in a much more presentable format.
October 24, 2007
BLUE BELL, Pa., Oct. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- C&D Technologies, Inc. ("C&D") (NYSE: CHP) today announced completion of the sale of certain assets of its Motive Power Division to Crown Battery Manufacturing Company ("Crown") of Fremont, Ohio for an undisclosed sum. C&D has also entered into a five year agreement with Crown to market C-Line, V-Line and Velocity batteries. Crown will also supply sealed LIBRA batteries and FERRO series chargers to the motive power industry. Under the terms of the arrangement Crown will become the authorized warranty service provider for the installed base of C&D's motive batteries and chargers. Additionally, Crown will take over C&D's motive power branch operations in Canada, New York and California.Dr. Jeffery Graves, CEO of C&D Technologies commented, "This transaction concludes our reshaping of C&D, and focuses us exclusively on Standby Power where we occupy a market-leading position in telecommunications, cable television, uninterruptable power supplies and the utility industry. This transaction is a good fit for both Crown and C&D, and importantly it also provides for a smooth transition to our loyal motive customer base, many of whom have been with us for over 50 years. We look forward to a mutually beneficial long term relationship with Crown."
Hal Hawk, President of Crown Battery Manufacturing commented, "This purchase is in line with our long-term strategic plan, and will position us for continued growth in our desired markets. Our ability to provide warranty support to their existing customers will yield a seamless transition."
About C&D Technologies
C&D Technologies, Inc. provides solutions and services for the switchgear and control (utility), telecommunications, and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) as well as emerging markets such as solar power. C&D Technologies engineers, manufactures, sells and services fully integrated reserve power systems for regulating and monitoring power flow and providing backup power in the event of primary power loss until the primary source can be restored. C&D Technologies is headquartered in Blue Bell, PA. For more information about C&D Technologies, visit http://www.cdtechno.com.
About Crown Battery Manufacturing Company, Inc.
Crown Battery is a privately-owned manufacturer and marketer of industrial batteries and chargers to the material handling, mining and railroad industries. Additionally, Crown manufactures automotive-style and commercial battery products to a multitude of markets including floor-care, marine, commercial truck and automotive aftermarket. For more than 80 years, Crown Battery has served the world's power needs from its corporate headquarters in Fremont, Ohio. For more information, you can find us as www.crownbattery.com.
Forward-looking Statements:
This press release may contain forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), which are based on management's current expectations and are subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstances. Words and expressions reflecting something other than historical fact are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. Factors that appear with the forward- looking statements, or in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings (including without limitation the company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2007, or the quarterly and current reports filed on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K thereafter), could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward- looking statements made herein.
SOURCE C&D Technologies, Inc.
-0- 10/24/2007
/CONTACT: Shareholders, Ian J. Harvie of C&D, +1-215-619-7835; or Joseph Crivelli of Gregory FCA for C&D,
+1-610-642-8253/
/Web site: http://www.cdtechno.com
http://www.crownbattery.com /
(CHP)
CO: C&D Technologies, Inc.; Crown Battery Manufacturing Company
ST: Pennsylvania, Ohio
IN: TLS CPR UTI
SU: TNM RB-CS -- NEW064 -- 5036 10/24/2007 08:42 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
RB-CS
-- NEW064 --
5036 10/24/2007 08:42 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com