East Penn Manufacturing has joined the prestigious ranks of TIME’s America’s Best Private Companies for 2026.

The annual ranking, presented in collaboration with Statista, recognises the top private companies in the US based on employee satisfaction and company impact.

The lead battery major said on August 4 it had placed 18th among 500 private companies nationwide.

Rankings are based on an independent evaluation that includes employee survey responses from around 217,000 US employees collected over a three-year period.

Assessments also consider each company’s societal impact through research conducted in partnership with The Upright Project, which evaluates contributions across society, knowledge, health, and the environment.

Pete Stanislawczyk, East Penn’s CEO, said: “This recognition reflects the commitment of our employees and the values that have guided East Penn for 80 years.

“As a privately held, family-owned company, we can focus on what matters most: our people, our customers, and long-term success that will benefit all those we serve.”

The TIME accolade comes after East Penn received other honours earlier this year, including named as one of the best placed to work in Pennsylvania and Texas in 2025 — as well as one of the 2026 best places to work in manufacturing nationally.