After more than 20 years with Ecobat Battery Technologies, managing director Steve Sheppard has stepped down from his position, six years after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Russell McBurnie succeeds him as managing director.
As a further example of its ongoing expansion, Ecobat Battery Technologies (EBT), formerly Manbat, has moved into a new, purpose built 15,000sqft facility to allow it to satisfy the increasing demand for its range of premium quality batteries and charging solutions across its multiple business sectors, but particularly for the needs of its fast growing established automotive and commercial vehicle customer base.
The Technical Seminar programme at the recent Automechanika Birmingham trade expo provided the perfect platform for ECOBAT Battery Technologies (EBT), formally Manbat, to inform and assist technicians with the direction that battery-related technology is taking in the automotive industry and the independent aftermarket particularly.
Manchester Batteries has come a long way since Harry Pemberton started the business in 1952. Now known as Manbat Ltd., the firm is a leading supplier of automotive and industrial batteries in the UK, and since 2009 has been a part of the Ecobat Technologies group, the world’s largest producer and recycler of lead. In order to extend the strong position Manbat has built up in Britain, Ecobat has consolidated it into a new company, Ecobat Battery Technologies. The new firm was officially launched last month at Automechanika Frankfurt and at IMHX 2016 in Birmingham.
Last week’s Automechanika Frankfurt show was the exhibition debut for a new name in the battery world – Ecobat Battery Technologies. The company was recently created through the consolidation of three independent businesses operating within the Ecobat group, a consortium which itself spawned from Ecobat Technologies, the world’s largest producer of lead and lead alloys. With this entirely new entity, Ecobat says it intends to “offer a unique and comprehensive battery service across Europe.”
Over the past few years Manbat has told workshops to get ready for more business with vehicles fitted with start-stop systems. The UK’s largest automotive battery distributor now offers garages and workshops a new device for dealing with aftermarket start-stop jobs – it has released its own Manbat ‘Connect + Reset’ battery validation tool.
The Lucas range of automotive batteries now includes an AGM fitment. Lucas AGM products will be available throughout the Manbat branch network, and Manbat says AGM batteries have joined the Lucas line-up to accommodate growing start-stop vehicle numbers.
Manbat, the UK’s largest automotive battery distributor, has been a long-standing and practical supporter of the automotive industry charity, BEN. However, rather than undertaking well publicised, but sporadic, short-term money raising events, Manbat has adopted a consistent, service-centric and below the radar approach in the form of a supply agreement. Under this agreement, whenever a beneficiary that uses some form of battery-powered mobility equipment requires a new battery for it, Manbat will deliver a replacement and collect the failed battery, anywhere in the country and completely without charge.
In September 2014, Varta announced two new developments, and Manbat reports these are now available in the UK through the network of branches it supplies. The first new arrivals are the EFB and AGM batteries launched at the Automechanika show, and the second, although less relevant to the automotive sector, is the Promotive EFB heavy-duty battery.
The UK’s largest automotive and commercial vehicle battery distributor, Manbat, is to make its second appearance at Frankfurt’s Automechanika (Stand 3.1 G65) in September. The company has planned a substantially more prominent stand, scaled up from 12sqm to 56sqm, while two other Ecobat Technologies group businesses will join it on-stand. Manbat says the event provides […]
A new, range-topping commercial vehicle battery line has joined the Lucas brand portfolio. UK distributor Manbat says the new Lucas Supreme range of four part numbers, which are available with 140, 170, 180 and 225 Ah capacities, are designed for high performance commercial vehicles with large power demands and high vibration resistance requirements.
Since leaving the ownership of the Pemberton family in 2009, Manbat has gradually become more aligned with the internal structure of the Ecobat Technologies group, while remaining faithful to its core principals of supplying its customers with quality products and service. The Manbat team aimed to ensure “business as usual” upon the change of ownership, and the success of this approach can be seen in the fact that some people remain unaware that Manbat is now part of a larger group.
Manbat, the UK’s largest automotive battery distributor, introduced its Numax brand in 2002 to commemorate the company’s 50th anniversary. Since its launch, Numax brand awareness has become almost universal, and Manbat says it has established itself as one of the country’s most popular aftermarket brands. To equip the brand, and those distributing it, for the next decade, Manbat has refreshed Numax’s visual identity as well as its offering within the automotive products range.
Manbat reports that it is on a mission to help technicians get their heads around the challenges posed by increasing numbers of vehicles fitted with a Start-Stop system. The primary objective behind Manbat exhibiting at the MECHANEX Manchester show this week (Event City on 20 and 21 May) is to engage with technicians and ensure that they are fully aware of the changing shape of the battery market and how that will affect them in the workshop. They say it’s important workshop managers and staff speaking with customers understand the reasons behind the growth in ‘micro-hybrid vehicles’ too, the official name for those with a Start-Stop system.
Battery supplier Manbat has supported three consecutive events in Telford, Birmingham and Paris. “Despite the complication of the timing of the events, two of which ran simultaneously, I’m delighted to say that all three exhibitions were a great success,” said marketing manager Myles Pemberton.
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