Associated Batteries to launch new product

Anuradha Kodagoda

Associated Battery Manufacturers will invest Rs.150 million to launch a maintenance free battery for the local motor industry made to Japanese standards. This is the first time such a battery is being manufactured in Sri Lanka.

CEO, R.M.D. Bandara Picrure by Sumanachandra Ariyawansa

Speaking to Daily News Business Chief Executive Officer of Associated Battery Manufacturers (Ceylon) Limited R.M.D. Bandara said the main advantage of this product is that it does not need maintenance during the first two years. "Our batteries carry a one year guarantee and we are providing a two year guarantee for this product," he said.

"Our company started in early 1960's and at the time it was started the investment was very small. "Today we have become the market leader with total investment in the excess of Rs. 400 million, "he claimed.

The local battery market is small for us. We are exporting to India and Singapore and the export turnover for last year was of US$ 3 million. "We are looking at possibilities of expanding exports to other countries," he said.

"There is a risk in the next couple of years, as the global recession may decrease new vehicles entering into the market. And also this will affect the disposable income of our people specially who are in the village areas where they use batteries for non-auto motives like, radio, televisions, where they might postpone purchasing batteries for the use of these products.

Sri Lanka imports batteries from Indonesia, Thailand and China and due to our high quality we do not see a threat from them. "We do not see a great negative impact for our export segment. We are using the latest high tech technology for producing the auto motive batteries. These are the three main strengths, which help us to sustain in the business and also to be the market leader in the industry.

The company produces two types of batteries, JIS and dim battery. "We are not producing the category of dim battery which is upto German standards. What we are producing is JIS category, which is of Japanese standards."

"This year we won the World Quality Commitment Award from the Business Initiative Direction in Paris and this award is mainly for the commitment we are maintaining towards the quality. Other than automotive batteries, we are into producing batteries for solar panel," he said.