International Lead Association (ILA)

Lead-acid battery industry stalwart Michael Mayer died last week.

Those who knew Michael were shocked whenr he died unexpectedly, but peacefully, at the age of 82 on November 1st.

Michael was a former manager of lead-acid batteries at the Lead Development Association (now International Lead Association). 

However, Michael is probably best known as the founder of the European Lead Battery Conference in 1988— of which he still attended up to 2014.

He also formed the Electric Boat Association in 1985.

Well known throughout the industry, Michael had been retired officially for a number of years following a lifetime of involvement with lead-acid batteries

Michael, who has not always enjoyed the best of health, had been in better shape in recent years and so his passing came as a great shock to all of us, said a spokesman for the International Lead Association, of which Michael joined in 1979.

Who added: “Michael’s irrepressible enthusiasm and personable nature endeared him to everyone, and ensured that the events he organised were invariably well attended.”

“Michael’s legions of friends throughout the industry will miss him greatly.

Michael won the ILA Award in 2014 after spending many years with battery companies in the UK and the USA.

Michael’s wife Kim sadly died two years ago. He is survived by his son Kirk, his daughters Sian and Juno, and his granddaughter Daisy.

Life-time of work in the lead-acid industry

Michael graduated in 1955 with a BA in mathematics and physics.

Michael moved into the world of lead-acid batteries in 1971 with Globe Union Overseas, where he had responsibilities in battery technology and equipment sales.

When Globe Union Overseas was absorbed by Johnson Controls in 1978, Michael continued in this role for the new owners, before becoming Marketing Manager for Europe and the Far East with responsibility for battery technology licensing and equipment sales

In 1979, Michael returned to the UK and joined the Lead Development Association to head up the organisation's lead battery initiatives and activities.

These were very wide-ranging and included the promotion of lead-acid batteries; writing, editing and publishing newsletters and technical brochures; and arranging and taking part in lead-acid battery seminars and workshops in Europe and the Far East. 

It was in the field of meetings organisation that Michael identified a series of topics that merited special attention and brought together the relevant communities to debate them.

A series of such meetings throughout Europe culminated in the creation of the first European Lead Battery Conference, which took place in Paris in 1988.

The European Lead Battery Conferences were an immediate success and after 28 years they are still growing and are the largest event of its kind in the world, providing the industry with a unique opportunity to learn about all the latest developments and to meet with all the key players.

No further details were available at the time of going to press.