Global battery manufacturer GS Yuasa is creating 105 new jobs and protecting a further 360 positions thanks to support from Welsh Government funding of up to £2.5m for its Ebbw Vale plant.

 
The company is one of the world’s leading global manufacturers of Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) and Lithium-ion batteries. The funding will help the company increase production volumes and upgrade processes so they are more energy efficient.

The factory manufactures VRLA standby batteries that are predominantly used in Uninterruptible Power Supply systems and other industrial markets. During the Coronavirus pandemic these batteries also supplied power to the NHS Nightingale hospitals and other key medical projects.

A new assembly line will be installed to produce new Lithium-ion battery modules, with semi-automation of key processes also introduced.

The support, which comes from Welsh Government’s Economic Futures Fund, will be key in creating new employment opportunities and safeguarding the long-term future of the site.

Andrew Taylor, Managing Director and CEO of GS Yuasa Battery Europe Ltd, said, “This considerable investment is great news for the continued development and growth of our industrial battery business across Europe. Our manufacturing facility in Ebbw Vale produces Europe’s market leading range of industrial VRLA batteries with a pedigree of high performance, reliability and quality established over the past 40 years. Our ambitious plans include the installation of new energy efficient production equipment to increase manufacturing capacity, renewable energy sources and the establishment of an assembly and R&D facility for state-of-the-art Lithium-ion battery modules. These will all contribute to GS Yuasa’s global policy of reducing carbon emissions and helping to build a more sustainable society.”