The Indian battery industry, comprising automobile, sealed maintenance free (SMF), tubular and lead acid batteries, has been growing at an annual rate of 25 per cent for the last four years. The growth is mainly in the automotive segment but, significantly, also in the industrial sectors powered by usage in telecom, railways, power and other industrial applications. Presently, the battery market in India is worth Rs 100 billion, with the automotive battery segment accounting for over 65 per cent of the overall market value. While SMF valve regulated lead acid (VRLA) batteries have a share of 25-30 per cent, lead acid batteries dominate the market with a 70-75 per cent share. This growth is expected to continue in the future as well, due to growth in the telecom sector and the government’s focus on infrastructure development and renewable energy such as solar power. In addition, with the increased use of inverters due to frequent power outages and the requirement for power backup to prevent loss in productivity, the battery market is likely to surge ahead, with demand coming from manufacturing facilities, banking, insurance and finance companies, followed by IT/ITeS sector.
By Rebika Singam
Monday, May 16, 2011: Electronics Bazaar did a survey in the electronics industry (particularly among the UPS/inverter companies), pharmaceutical firms and safety alarm, equipment and motor bike manufacturers, to ascertain the leading battery players/brands in India, based on certain parameters like reliability, good after sales service, customer satisfaction, intention of the user to recommend the brand, product quality and certification.
In the survey, 17 brands/companies emerged as the most preferred in India, with Exide Industries Ltd, leading the list. Besides these 17 leading battery players/brands, two more companies are also featured in this column as ‘other key battery players,’ as they have been named as the second and third preferences among those surveyed.
While this survey is by no means comprehensive, it does provide a glimpse into India’s key battery players. It should be noted that the listing is not based on any rank but is in alphabetical order.
Leading battery players/brands in India (in alphabetical order)
- Amara Raja Batteries Ltd
- AMCO Batteries Ltd
- Artheon Electronics Ltd
- Base Corporation Ltd
- Exide Industries Ltd
- Evolute Solutions Pvt Ltd
- Fusion Power
- Systems (Amptek)
- Greenvision Technologies
- Pvt Ltd (Relicell)
- HBL Power Systems Ltd
- Luminous Power
- Technologies (P) Ltd
- Okaya Power Group
- Panasonic battery
- Regnant Group
- Rocket battery
- Su-Kam Power Systems Ltd
- TATA AutoComp GY
- Batteries Ltd
- Trontek Electronics Pvt Ltd
Some of the companies that participated in the survey
We approached enterprises of various verticals in the electronics industry (particularly the UPS/inverter companies), pharmaceutical firms and safety alarm, equipment and motor bike manufacturers, about 100 in all, to ascertain which battery players are making a mark in the Indian battery market. Following are some of the companies, who shared their preferences with us to clearly identify the leading battery players/brands in India.
- 3 Ace Technology
- Aar-em Electronics Pvt Ltd
- Aargee Equipments Pvt Ltd
- Accura Automation Engineers (Pvt) Ltd
- ADS Power Systems (P) Ltd
- Ambient Computronics Pvt Ltd
- Aplab Limited
- ARVI Systems & Controls Pvt Ltd
- Bajaj Auto Ltd
- Bharat Bijlee Ltd
- Cachet Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd
- Cannon Electronic Systems
- Consul Consolidated Pvt Ltd
- Delta Electronics India
- Eaton Power Quality Pvt Ltd
- Emerson Network Power (India) Pvt Ltd
- Fleetguard Filters Private Limited
- Genius Electrical & Electronics (P) Ltd
- Gyro Laboratories
- Hero Honda Motors
- Indus Industries
- Integrated Equipments Limited
- Lzen Electronics India
- Makson Engineers
- Microtek International Pvt Ltd
- Nano Power Engineering Company
- Newtech Technology
- Power Control Engineers
- Power Pulse
- Powermax Inverters & UPS Systems
- Prompt UPS Sales and Services Pvt Ltd
- Robonik (India) Pvt Ltd
- Shriram Alkali & Chemicals
- SI Industries Ltd
- Swastik Power Electronics (India) Pvt Ltd
- Techno Power Systems
- Umang Pharmatech Pvt Ltd
- Uniline Energy Systems Pvt Ltd
| Amara Raja Batteries Ltd |
 Jay Galla, managing director
Amara Raja Batteries Ltd (ARBL), an Amara Raja–Johnsons Control joint venture, with a 26 per cent equity stake with the latter, is a technology leader and one of the frontrunners among manufacturers of lead acid batteries for both industrial and automotive applications. ARBL is the largest manufacturer of standby valve regulated lead acid (VRLA) batteries in the Indian Ocean. The foundation stone of the parent group of ARBL was laid in 1985 by Ramchandra N Galla, an engineer by qualification. Under his able guidance and chairmanship, the company has reached a position of leadership in a very short span and has a fully integrated manufacturing unit in Tirupati. Major products: Industrial and automotive batteries. Sectors it caters to: Telecom, UPS, EPABX, ITES, railways, power control, solar and automotive industry. Contact details: Ph: +91-40-23683000; Fax: +91-40-23118219; Email: [email protected], [email protected]; Website: www.amararaja.co.in |
| AMCO Batteries Ltd |
| AMCO Batteries Ltd, a member of the Amalgamation Group of Companies, is a well known and trusted manufacturer of a wide range of automotive batteries. AMCO has been a pioneer in this industry and has been a brand to be reckoned with in the battery industry since 1955. The advent of new generation Japanese motorcycles and cars in India in 1984, saw AMCO take significant steps in the upgradation of technologies to suit these new generation motorcycles and cars. The initial collaboration with YUASA of Japan made the AMCO brand the preferred choice for all two wheeler manufacturers. AMCO produces batteries for almost all important applications including telecom, UPS systems, inverters, etc. AMCO Batteries was the first manufacturer in this industry to be awarded ISO-9001 certification by BVQI-1994. The company has a distributor network which reaches all corners of the country and the brand is known and respected for its superior services capabilities and reach.
Contact details: Ph: 044-30277322/30277316/30277312; Fax: 044-30277313; Email: [email protected]; Website : www. amco.co.in (As per company website) |
| Artheon Electronics Ltd |
| Sunil Bhatnagar, director, sales and marketing
Artheon Electronics Ltd is one of the flagship companies of the Artheon Group engaged in the field of manufacturing and distributing of SMF-VRLA batteries. The company has entered into a joint venture with North Star Battery Company LLC, USA, one of the leading global producers of high performance lead acid batteries. Artheon’s products are based on knowledge, experience and innovative force and are distributed to more than 120 countries. In India, Artheon has a state of the art manufacturing unit in Nasik and has a well equipped manufacturing and testing facility for SMF-VRLA batteries. The plant is ISO 9001-2008, ISO 14001-2004 and Kaizan certified, and the products are in compliance with standards like JIS C 8702, Pt-I, II and III, besides ERTL (N), Solar Energy Centre (MNRE), IEC 60896-21 and 22, EU’s LVD 2006/95/EC and CE. Major products: SMF-VRLA and tubular batteries. Sectors it caters to: Telecom, EPABX, IT, banking, renewable energy (solar and wind), UPS, etc. Contact details: Ph: +91-11-40516480, 40567371, +91-9999119490; Fax: +91-11-40516479; Email: [email protected]; Website: www.artheonelec.com, www.artheonventures.com |
| Base Corporation Ltd |
| Girish Arora, managing directorBase Corporation was founded in 1987 as an exclusive distributor of Panasonic’s brand of batteries in India. In 2000, the company set up its own design and R&D centre in Bangaluru, and started a unique service called ‘Dial a battery’ in 2003. By 2008, a full-fledged state of the art manufacturing plant was set up in Solan (HP) with the latest equipment imported from USA, Taiwan, Korea, China, Germany, France and other European countries. The plant is a first of its kind, with zero discharge facilities, and a completely pollution free environment. It strives to achieve customer satisfaction by providing quality products, and its quality policy revolves around total quality management, zero man days’ loss, technology management, recycling and process management, as well as waste and cost management.
Major products: Inverter, UPS systems, and batteries—tall tubular and flat plate inverter batteries; solar batteries, automotive batteries (truck, tractor, car, LCV, HCV, etc), genset batteries, motor cycle and VRLA batteries. Sectors it caters to: Telecom, railways, power plants, UPS, defence, motive power, SPV and EV. Contact details: Ph: 91-080-41635909, 40621900, 18001800007; Fax: 91-080-41104555; Email: [email protected]; Website: www.basebatteries.com |
| Evolute Solutions Pvt Ltd |
| Parag Mehta, managing director
The Evolute Group of companies is one of India’s fastest growing conglomerates, providing diverse solutions to various sectors and industries. Commitment at Evolute is oriented towards the customer’s business needs. Availability and on-time delivery are the two key factors that have helped Evolute maintain its edge in the market. Based on the strong belief of providing customers the highest quality products consistently, Evolute has been a pioneer in research, evolving innovative solutions for all business needs. Leone batteries are a part of Energy Group with a total investment of US$ 20 million in China. The company is dedicated to the research, manufacture and marketing of new types of high energy VRLA batteries, GEL VRLA batteries and lead fibre material. The company’s strength lies in the core technology of VRLA battery production and it owns 20 international patents in this domain. Major products: SMF batteries, NiCd, Ni-mh, Li-Ion battery packs, SMPS, LED drivers, LCDs (character, graphic and TFT), relays, etc. Sectors it caters to: Energy and power, telecom, consumer electronics, security and defence, healthcare and mobile medicine. Contact details: Ph: +91-250-3023500; Fax: +91-250-3023501; Email: [email protected], [email protected]; Website: www.evolute-sol.com |
| Exide Industries Ltd |
| Exide Industries Ltd is the country’s largest manufacturer of lead acid storage batteries and power storage solutions provider. With seven international standard factories spread across the nation, the company offers one of the widest ranges of batteries for every conceivable application in automotive as well as industrial segments. Exide’s vast product range includes everything, from the smallest UPS batteries to the giant submarine batteries. For UPS applications, existing product portfolio includes EP series, Powersafe NXT, EL, EL+, ELF. These products are developed by digging deep into customers’ needs and requirements and were made possible by the unique culture of Exide where each function of its business runs with one core value –customer orientation. These batteries are widely known to be extremely dependable and sturdy, and offer the perfect solution for all the critical needs. With an annual turnover above Rs 48 billion, the company is more than three times larger than its closest competitor in India, claims the company.
Major products: For institutional UPS applications, the batteries include EP, Powersafe NXT, EL, EL+ and ELF ranges. Sectors it caters to: UPS applications, and end users like banks, insurance companies, hospitals, IT and other institutional customers. Contact details: Ph: +91-033-22832184; Fax: +91-33-22866186; Email: [email protected]; Website: www.exide4u.com |
| Fusion Power Systems |
| Kapil Sood, CEO
Fusion Power Systems is an ISO9001:2001 certified enterprise engaged in the development and supply of rechargeable sealed lead acid (SLA) batteries, which are marketed under the brand name ‘Amptek’. Fusion Power has a nationwide sales, service and distribution network. At present, it supplies over 60 models of small and large SLA batteries in 2 V, 6 V, and 12 V, with a rated capacity of 0.3 Ah–3000 Ah. Amptek batteries strictly comply with JIS and IEC standards. They are specially designed, built and tested to perform in most difficult environments. These batteries offer good stability, high capacity and long service life. The company has also set up state of the art battery testing facilities using advanced testing equipment and quality testing procedures. Major products: SMF industrial batteries, SMF motorcycle batteries, SMF E-bike batteries. Sectors it caters to: Government departments, banking, insurance, UPS, solar, security systems, medical equipment, etc. Contact details: Ph: 011-26782717/26782718; Fax: 011-26782718; Email: [email protected]; Website: www.amptekbatteries.com |
| Global Powersource India Pvt Ltd |
| Dipak Gandhi, chairman
The ‘Rocket’ brand of batteries, manufactured by Global Battery Co Ltd, Korea, has been a world class brand for over the past five decades. Today, Global Battery (formerly known as Global and Yuasa Battery Co Ltd) produces over 11.5 million storage batteries for use in various industries as well as SMF VRLA batteries. Technologies accumulated over the past 46 years within Global and the most advanced technologies from Yuasa have been successfully integrated into Global’s products to earn worldwide respect. Dipak Gandhi as an entrepreneur, visioned the need for the service of Global Battery Co Ltd in India and initiated his venture, Global Powersource India Pvt Ltd. This firm, introduced the pioneering ‘Rocket SMF VRLA batteries’ in India in 1988. It is the sole representative of Global Battery Co Ltd, South Korea, for ‘Rocket’ brand SMF VRLA battery in the Asia Pacific, Middle East and European regions. Major products: SMF VRLA and tubular. Sectors it caters to: UPS, solar, telecom and automobiles. Contact details: Ph: 020-40460646,1800 425 0646 (toll free); Fax: 21021042; Website: www.rocketbatteries.net |
| Greenvision Technologies Pvt Ltd |
| Biju Bruno, managing director
Greenvision Technologies Pvt Ltd was incorporated in 2008 with the objective of providing renewable and backup energy storage solutions. Headquartered in Bengaluru, the company was founded and is managed by a team of seasoned professionals with a deep understanding of the customer’s requirements and applications. The management team has wide and varied experience across functions like product design, R&D, sales and marketing, manufacturing, distribution and finance. Greenvision also manufactures and markets the Relicell brand of industrial batteries. Recently, it has launched a range of batteries with a built-in monitoring system that enables a user to remotely manage the battery bank for all parameters like charging current, voltage, depth of discharge, cycle times, state of charge, ambient temperature, etc. Major products: VRLA and tubular lead acid batteries, battery monitoring systems. Sectors it caters to: UPS, telecom, solar, traction, banking, insurance, state and central government establishments, IT/ITES, defence, PSUs, etc. Contact details: Ph: +91-80-42459459; Fax: +91-80-42459460; Email: [email protected]; Website: www.relicellbattery.com |
| HBL Power Systems Ltd |
| Avnish Arora, vice president, sales
HBL Power Systems Ltd is the pioneer in the design, development and manufacture of specialised batteries and DC systems in India. It is an ISO 9001: 2008, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certified organisation, and has more than three decades of experience in this field. Headquartered in Hyderabad, it has factories, sales offices and distributors/agents across the globe to cater for its ever growing export business. HBL is committed to improving its global competitiveness by sharing knowledge, maintaining a constant drive towards innovation and growth, and by investing in internationally benchmarked technology and niche products. Its vision is to organise India’s engineering talent into a globally competitive business, whether in manufacturing or services. Its state of the art manufacturing facilities, enabled by a strong R&D team, ensure high quality products and technologically innovative solutions. Major products: Lead acid batteries, nickel cadmium batteries and power electronics. Sectors it caters to: Telecom, railways, defence, aviation and automotive. Contact details: Ph: 040-23355575, 23355147/0124-4783333; Fax: 040-23355048/0124-4783300; Email: [email protected]/[email protected]; Website: www.hbl.in |
| Luminous Power Technologies (P) Ltd |
| Rakesh Malhotra, founder and CEO
Luminous Power Technologies (P) Ltd is a leading global company delivering high quality power products for home and commercial applications. Founded in 1988, the group earned revenues exceeding US$ 250 million in FY 09-10 and is projected to earn US$ 500 million by FY 10-11. Apart from its dominance in the domestic market, Luminous has a strong foothold in over 36 countries worldwide. Its global technology centres located in India, US and China, deliver the cutting edge technology that goes into making every Luminous product a class apart from its competitors. Luminous follows its proprietary UGC (Universal Grid Compatibility) process to ensure consistency and very high standards of reliability across the globe. Luminous has been consistently winning awards and accolades for market leadership and the excellent reliability of its products in the domestic as well as international arena. Major products: Power backup systems such as UPS systems, inverters, batteries, water purifiers, water heaters, etc. Contact details: Ph: +91-11-25558913-20,+91-11-40778221/222; Fax: 25558912; Email: [email protected]; Website: www.luminousindia.com |
| Okaya Power Group |
| Rajesh Gupta, director
Okaya Power Group of companies (OPG) began its foray into IT products, UPS systems and industrial battery manufacturing under the leadership of OP Gupta. Within a short span of time, it has made giant strides in the industry and is now a well known name in the battery business. Apart from batteries, OPG has ventured into metal processing, portable power, alternative/renewable energies, water purifiers, software solutions and infrastructure development. This diversified portfolio has helped the group grow by leaps and bounds and it is headed towards crossing the Rs 20 billion milestone very soon. Its group of companies include Okaya Power Ltd (OPL), Okaya Infocom and Okaya Energy Systems. Encouraged by the pace of progress, the flagship company of the group, Okaya Power Ltd, has ventured into the water purification domain to manufacture filters and RO purifiers, marketed under the brand name ‘Nasaka’. Major products: Inverters and automotive batteries, SMF-VRLA rechargeable batteries, mobile phone batteries and water purifiers. Sectors it caters to: UPS systems for home and office, solar, telecom and automotive. Contact details: Ph: 011-45112345; Fax: 011-45112390; Email: [email protected]; Website: www.okayapower.com |
| Regnant Group |
| Praveen Kumar Sood, chairman
Regnant Group was started by Praveen Kumar Sood, an internationally acclaimed renewable energy and energy efficient lighting systems specialist, in 2009. Earlier, he had established a pan India and successful ‘Lintek’ brand. Regnant strives to achieve perfection and maintain the highest standards of quality in all its products, tailored for the Indian market. Having invested over Rs 10 million in its state of the art testing equipment for batteries as well as lighting products, Regnant is currently undergoing the process for NABL accreditation, so that its facilities can be availed by the industry in general. In addition, it is also investing in its two manufacturing units in Rudrapur (Uttarakhand) where it will be manufacturing tubular flooded electrolyte, SMF VRLA and nickel metal hydride batteries in India besides high efficiency pure sine wave inverters, solar charge controllers and renewable energy based portable electronics equipment. Major products: SMF VRLA batteries, solar lanterns (to be launched soon), emergency lights, pure sine wave inverters, solar charge controllers, LED products, etc. Sectors it caters to: Industrial, OEMs and end use applications. Contact details: Ph: 91-1129535381/82/83; Fax: 91-11-29534272; Email: [email protected]; Website: www.regnant.co.in |
| Su-Kam Power Systems Ltd |
| Kunwer Sachdev, founder & managing directorFounded in 1998, Su-Kam Power Systems Ltd is the leader in power backup solutions and has retained its position of leadership for years. With a market share of more than 40 per cent, Su-Kam products have set benchmarking standards for the industry. In fact, the company has played a seminal role in consolidating and upgrading the inverter industry from the unorganised to the organised sector, thereby adding immense value to the industry as a whole. In the process, it has established itself as a leader in product innovation, design sensibility and sales distribution networks. From its very inception, the company has invested significantly in R&D. Su-Kam is credited with the largest number of patents filed for technology and design with over 50 patents, 80 copyrights and 38 trademarks to its credit. It also has large network of offices and channel partners in India and across the globe.
Major products: Digital home UPS, home UPS, batteries, power doc, battery chargers and equalisers, line interactive UPS and online UPS, solar products, etc. Sectors it caters to: Home, office, aviation, banks, telecommunication, retail and hospitality, IT, agriculture, textiles, etc. Contact details: Ph: 0124-4170500; Fax: 0124-4038700; Email: [email protected]; Website: www.su-kam.com |
| Tata AutoComp GY Batteries Ltd |
| Arijit Dutta, business unit headTata AutoComp GY Batteries Ltd is a 50:50 joint venture between Tata AutoComp Systems Ltd and GS Yuasa International, Japan. Headquartered in Pune, TATA Green Batteries has a state of the art manufacturing facility situated at MIDC Ranjangaon, near Pune. Spread over 15 acres, the facility has a capacity to produce 2.5 million batteries per annum with an investment of Rs 137 million. Offering batteries from premium to sub economy segment, TATA Green Batteries has 40 models and five variants viz, titanium (premium) series, platinum (standard) series, gold XT(economy) silver plus and silver range (sub economy) in PC/UV segment. TATA Green Batteries offers comprehensive battery solutions to the Indian market with a focus on latest-technology in automotive and inverter batteries. Its marketing operations are backed by an extensive national sales and a strong service network, which comprises of 19 CFAs, 280 channel partners and about 6000 retailers in the country.
Major products: Batteries for PC/UV, CV, two wheelers, farms and inverters. Sectors it caters to: OEMs, institutional, aftermarket and exports. Contact details: Ph: +91-02138672400/020-66085000; Website: www.tatagreenbattery.com |
| Trontek Electronics Pvt Ltd |
| Samrath Kochhar, managing directorSince its inception in 2000, Trontek Electronics Pvt Ltd has emerged as a reputed player, becoming one of India’s premier importers and distributors of Trontek SMF batteries. Its customers spread across India have benefited from its relentless efforts in launching new products through a well established and dedicated sales channel that is present in all metropolitan cities and various other parts of the country.
It is committed to introducing high quality world class products and superior service at competitive prices. To meet the ever growing demands for quality, it is totally focused on procuring material from principals/manufacturers who are reputed to have established quality benchmarks for themselves, globally. Its batteries are tested as per Japanese standards and recognised by ERTL, Delhi. Major products: SMF batteries, motor cycles, E-bike and automotive batteries. Sectors it caters to: Power electronics, solar, security systems, telecommunications, offices, electric vehicles, car batteries, etc. Contact details: Ph: 91-11-47880000; Fax: 45572224; Email: [email protected]; [email protected]; Website: www.trontek.com |
Other Key Battery Players
| Computech Systems |
| Vikas Aggarwal, CEO
Computech Systems had a modest start in 1992 under the able guidance of the late RC Aggarwal, dealing in a focused range of products comprising computers, UPS systems and SMF batteries. Today, it has come a long way, having grown into a company with a turnover of Rs 12 million. It is one of the leading providers of state of the art technology products, like SMF batteries, with efficient and prompt services. With an excellent infrastructure, a government approved R&D lab along with a substantial market share earned by virtue of a sound reputation for quality, the company is now looking forward to expand at the national level and has already started to appoint dealers and service centres throughout India. It sells its products under the brand name ‘iPower’—implying the power within. Major products: SMF batteries. Sectors it caters to: UPS, inverters, and E-bike, etc. Contact details: Ph: 011-25920254/5/6, 9711188913, Email: [email protected], Website: www.computechsystems.in |
| U&C Batteries (P) Ltd |
| P Chandra Mohan Rao, managing director
U&C Batteries (P) Ltd was founded in 1992 with the aim of providing the latest rechargeable battery solutions to meet the ever increasing demand for portable energy storage. Originally starting out as a pioneer in the indigenous development and manufacture of sealed cylindrical nickel cadmium batteries, U&C now offers leading technologies in rechargeable alkaline, lithium ion and VRLA batteries. With three decades of experience, U&C Batteries designs, develops, manufactures and markets rechargeable batteries for the OEM (industrial and medical electronics) and replacement markets. Major products: NICAD/NIMH/Li-Ion and VRLA rechargeable batteries and lithium primary battery solutions. Sectors it caters to: Telecom, railways, defence and industrial electronics. Contact details: Ph: 040-40268580/27757161; 9246548887; Fax: 27755761; Email: [email protected]; [email protected]; Website: www.ucbatteries.com |
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