French battery maker Saft (SAFT.PA) announced the groundbreaking of a lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery
manufacturing plant at Cecil Commerce Center in Jacksonville, Florida this week.
The factory will build Li-ion cells and batteries for military hybrid vehicles, aviation, smart grid support,
broadband back-up power and energy storage for renewable energy.
Saft received a $95.5 million grant from the Department of Energy for this facility
under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, as well as incentives from the state of
Florida and from the city of Jacksonville.
The factory, which is Saft’s 16th wholly-owned facility worldwide and 6th within
the United States, will begin production during the second half of 2011.
John Searle, Saft Group CEO, said demand for the advanced batteries increasing rapidly,
particularly in emerging applications for energy storage,.
The company said the new facility will have a capacity of $300 million in annual sales when it is completed
next year. Saft has contracted the Haskell Company to provide the design-build services for
this project.
Saft is a leading manufacturer of nickel
batteries for industrial applications and of primary lithium batteries for a wide range of end markets. With
approximately 4,000 employees worldwide, Saft is present in 18 countries.
Loading...