Global lead battery major Banner is to invest a “significant double-digit million-euro amount” in its facilities in Austria over the next four years.

The move is part of the firm’s ‘Agenda 2035’ business programme, announced on June 10, focusing on longer-term profitability, efficiency and growth beyond existing markets.

Banner said optimised processes and modern technologies are at the centre of its strategy ― buoyed by news last January that the firm had secured two long-term battery supply contracts worth a total of €195 million ($231 million) in North American and European deals.

The company said its 2025/26 financial year was characterised by stability, strategic development and intensive transformation work. Sales, at 4.25 million units, were slightly higher than the previous year and above target.

At €311 million ($361 million), turnover reached a similar level to the previous financial year. However, the firm said the results showed it was holding its own in the challenging market environment of the European automotive industry. The international aftermarket showed particularly dynamic growth.

Now, the goal is to substantially expand automation and digital processes while securing the long-term competitiveness of production in Austria.

A key initiative is the implementation of SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud. At the same time, Banner said it is modernising machinery, infrastructure and operational processes.

Banner has also launched a new corporate design, still centred on its established bull motif, but enhanced to meet what the firm said is its ambition to give the Banner brand a clearer and modern presence as it charges ahead.

The company acknowledges that markets remain volatile and difficult to predict, but Banner’s leadership said there are clear opportunities and further growth potential in the international aftermarket business, new projects, and ongoing investments.

Secured capacity utilisation, high product quality, and a clear strategic direction provide a solid foundation for the company’s next steps, the firm said.

CEO Werner Töpfl said: “Banner must clearly differentiate itself from the competition through quality, customer proximity, speed and decisive action.”