Lead-acid firm Exide Technologies is investing more than $35 million in a punched grid-manufacturing site in the US state of Missouri.
The US firm said the 180,000 sq ft facility in Kansas City will be “the most advanced of its kind”— with a production capacity of more than three billion grids each year.
The facility will supply grids for use in Exide’s transportation products made in Kansas, Iowa and Georgia and “significantly enhance the production, quality and durability of Exide automotive batteries in North America”.
Up to 50 jobs will be created at the facility, which the company said uses a high-precision punching process to ensure grid quality and eliminate grid variability.
Exide president and CEO Vic Koelsch (pictured) said the facility was needed as a result of “winning new business and growing market share”.
The Kansas City site will enable the battery maker to “significantly increase capacity… which positions Exide for continued growth in the automotive and industrial battery markets”, Koelsch said.
Koelsch said the experience local workforce was among reasons for selecting Kansas City for the new development. Exide has an existing manufacturing plant in Kansas City and a battery recycling facility in the state.
