April 2015
AN INTRODUCTION TO MANBAT LTD
The Battery Distribution Specialist
______________________________________________________________________________
Manbat Ltd is the UK’s largest distributor of automotive derived batteries
and related stored energy products and at Railtex 2015, which runs from
12th to 14th May, it will be raising awareness of its premium quality brands to
rail professionals visiting the industry’s premier trade show at NEC,
Birmingham.
Typically, batteries used for rail applications fall into two categories, rolling
stock or stationary applications. Batteries designated for rolling stock are
used for starting the train and powering its lighting, as well as its on-board
auxiliary systems in the engine and coaches, whereas stationary batteries
are used as emergency backup power for railroad crossings, signal towers,
and related signalling systems.
Although some visitors may not be familiar with the name Manbat, they are
sure to know the Sonnenschein brand of batteries, for which Manbat is a
key UK distribution partner.
As a pioneer of GEL technology, Sonnenschein GEL batteries are widely
acknowledged to be the ‘gold standard’ for many power storage sectors.
These VRLA (Valve Regulated Lead Acid) batteries, in which the electrolyte
is ‘fixed’ in a gel, provide extremely high levels of reliability, even in less
than perfect conditions. They are also particularly suitable for cyclic
applications and being maintenance-free (so no topping up is required),
represent a very cost effective option over their lifecycle.
Exhibiting in hall 3 on stand S64, the Manbat team will be delighted to meet
visitors wishing to discuss their rail industry battery requirements or in need
of general battery advice.
Manbat is a member of the ECOBAT Technologies group, which comprises
lead smelting operations, the manufacture of lead products for the building
industry, battery collection, recycling and waste management and of
course, in the case of Manbat, battery distribution.
For further details, please call Manbat Customer Services on: 01743
218500 or visit: www.manbat.co.uk
PRESS CONTACT:
Steve Coombes
Tel. 01923 269490
Fax 01923 265894
Chicane
Unit 1 Abbotts Business Park, Primrose Hill,
Kings Langley, Herts, WD4 8FR.
steve@chicanemarketing.co.uk
MANBAT
Manbat Ltd is the UK’s largest distributor of batteries for the automotive,
commercial vehicle, leisure and marine sectors. It is also a major player in
the industrial battery sector, as well as the mobility, motorcycle and golf
markets.
Originally founded as Manchester Batteries in 1952 by Harry Pemberton,
the business remained in the Pemberton family until 2009 and during that
period the company grew steadily, establishing itself as a business
committed to providing its customers with top quality products backed up by
exceptional customer service.
In 1982 Manbat began its association with the VARTA® brand, which is
now owned by Johnson Controls Inc. (JCI) and this successful partnership
has continued to develop as the two respective businesses have grown.
Manbat introduced its Numax brand in 2002 and over the last decade it has
built the brand into a significant player within the automotive sector whilst
also establishing it as the UK’s premier range of leisure and marine
batteries. The Numax commitment to original equipment standard
production coupled with the buying power of being a major European player
allows Manbat to offer its customers a comprehensive range of good quality
automotive and commercial vehicle batteries at extremely competitive
prices.
Manbat is also the sole UK distributor for Lucas batteries and was
instrumental in the relaunch of the brand into the UK market in 2009 and
responsible for the considerable growth in market share it has subsequently
achieved.
Also in 2009, following three years of particularly close corporation with JCI,
the two companies formalised a revised distribution agreement, which
meant that JCI UK warehouses no longer supplied Manbat’s individual
branches. Instead, containers are sent directly to Manbat’s main
warehouses from JCI factories in Europe. In turn, with its increased levels
of stock and significant investment in service enhancement, Manbat was
asked to assume responsibility for servicing many of JCI’s existing
customers through its nationwide distribution network.
The strengthening of the relationship with VARTA supported a much earlier
change in the company’s direction as it began to concentrate on the supply
of top quality brands rather than produce its own batteries. This successful
move has led to the company’s current position as the predominant or sole
UK distributor for brands such as US Battery, Optima, Odyssey and
Sonnenschein, as well as Lucas, Numax and of course, VARTA.
PRESS CONTACT:
Steve Coombes
Tel. 01923 269490
Fax 01923 265894
Chicane
Unit 1 Abbotts Business Park, Primrose Hill,
Kings Langley, Herts, WD4 8FR.
steve@chicanemarketing.co.uk
In 2009 Roger Pemberton retired as Manbat’s managing director and Steve
Sheppard took the helm as the company started a new era under the
ownership of the ECOBAT group.
As part of a global organisation, Manbat was able to conclude its move into
a 2,880m2 distribution centre in Shrewsbury and the acquisition of
nationwide industrial battery specialist Battery Power Systems Ltd of
Scotland.
At the very end of 2013, the ECOBAT group completed the acquisition of
Batteries Accus Technologies of France, its fourth European battery
distribution business, which joined Manbat (UK and Republic of Ireland),
Hefra (Netherlands), and ACA (Belgium) in the ECOBAT European Battery
Distribution division.
Based in Varennes Vauzelles in Burgundy, the business has assumed the
Manbat France title, but remains a true battery specialist, supplying into
most market sectors with high quality brands such as VARTA and TAB,
supported by traditional customer service.
On the 1st August 2014 Manbat announced its latest acquisition, this time in
the south east of England with PowerCell Industrial Battery Engineers Ltd,
a leading industrial battery specialist based at Rayne in Essex.
For further details, please call Manbat Customer Services on: 01743
218500 or visit: www.manbat.co.uk
PRESS CONTACT:
Steve Coombes
Tel. 01923 269490
Fax 01923 265894
Chicane
Unit 1 Abbotts Business Park, Primrose Hill,
Kings Langley, Herts, WD4 8FR.
steve@chicanemarketing.co.uk
History and Formation of the ECOBAT Group
Although the ECOBAT name is relatively new, the group is founded on
centuries of experience in the lead industry, with smelters such as its
Braubach operations in Germany having historic links going right back to
the 14th century.
ECOBAT brings some of the world’s most renowned lead operations
together under one name, tapping into continuous innovations and making
it the technology leader in lead production, which benefits its clients,
employees and the environment.
ECOBAT’s core product, lead, is used across a wide range of industries,
including the lead-acid battery, building, chemical and nuclear fields. Each
of these industries has its own particular requirements, often demanding an
in-depth understanding of the functionality of the product within a given
application. Not only is ECOBAT able to support these various applications,
it can offer high quality ‘superior products’ such as bismuth-enhanced and
SuperSoft® soft lead, calcium/silver and complex barium/strontium alloys.
Besides lead, ECOBAT also produces a number of other non-lead
products, including sulphuric acid, polypropylene, sodium sulphate and
gypsum, as well as silver. In addition, its South African operations produce
zinc, aluminium, industrial minerals, plastics and poly foams. All ECOBAT
lead smelting operations are certified to the internationally recognised
quality standard ISO 9001 and TS 16949.
ECOBAT Technologies Group
ECOBAT Technologies is the world’s largest producer of lead, producing
over 800,000 metric tonnes per year from over 15 facilities in Europe, the
USA and South Africa. ECOBAT maximises the value of its operations by
producing the highest quality lead and lead alloys, specifically designed for
the battery, mining and other industries both from recycled and primary
materials. In addition, ECOBAT processes and supplies, in various forms,
silver, lead anodes and sheet, zinc, aluminium, industrial minerals, plastics,
polyfoams, and provides services including spent battery collection and
distribution of new batteries. Excellence is the watchword throughout all
operations, but particularly in customer service, technical expertise and
health, safety and environmental matters.
www.ecobatgroup.com
For further details, please call Manbat Customer Services on: 01743
218500 or visit: www.manbat.co.uk
PRESS CONTACT:
Steve Coombes
Tel. 01923 269490
Fax 01923 265894
Chicane
Unit 1 Abbotts Business Park, Primrose Hill,
Kings Langley, Herts, WD4 8FR.
steve@chicanemarketing.co.uk
The ECOBAT recycling cycle
As the world’s largest producer and recycler of lead, ECOBAT is currently
the only global organisation offering a ‘closed recycling loop’ for lead-acid
batteries.
That loop begins and ends with specialist ECOBAT group member
companies, four of which are battery collection companies located in
Europe, that collect, transport and store waste lead acid batteries and
battery powered appliances ready for recycling.
The core lead material extracted from these products is processed by its
smelters to manufacture lead and lead alloys of the highest quality.
Additional facilities process the remaining products derived from the lead
recycling operations to produce a further range of industrial products.
The ECOBAT European Battery Distribution division incorporates group
companies that retail new batteries into several sectors including the
automotive and heavy-duty vehicle industries and which also take back
waste batteries for group recycling.
The ECOBAT lead-acid battery ‘closed recycling loop’ is shown in the
diagram below.
For further details, please contact ECOBAT on: 01629 736100 or visit:
www.ecobatgroup.com
PRESS CONTACT:
Steve Coombes
Tel. 01923 269490
Fax 01923 265894
Chicane
Unit 1 Abbotts Business Park, Primrose Hill,
Kings Langley, Herts, WD4 8FR.
steve@chicanemarketing.co.uk