Exide Industries is to work with Germany-based ExCom on expanding ESS and industrial battery systems including advanced lead acid across the European Economic Area (EEA).

The companies signed a long-term agreement on September 15 to market and sell products under the ExCom brand in the EEA — which includes all 27 EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

Indian lead battery major Exide said the deal establishes a close commercial and technical collaboration between the companies, with ExCom acting as the “central commercial and technical interface” for the customers in the region.

The partnership will initially focus on traction and motive-power batteries serving material-handling equipment, logistics operations and other industrial mobility applications. Stationary battery systems for industrial, infrastructure and energy storage applications will also be covered.

Products will include battery systems, charging tech and lifecycle services to meet specific technical, regulatory and operational requirements of EEA businesses.

ExCom specialises in industrial battery systems, motive power applications, charging, stationary ESS and advanced chemistry products.

Holger Aschke, ExCom Energy Solutions MD, said: “Beyond advanced lead acid battery technologies, both companies see significant potential to expand their cooperation into selected advanced chemistry applications over time.”

Exide MD and CEO Avik Roy said the EEA is a strategically important market for the company’s industrial energy storage business, while ExCom brings strong market access, deep application expertise and proven local execution capabilities.

Roy said last year that Exide’s development of lithium battery manufacturing operations was being done “alongside the continued strength of our lead acid battery business”.

His pledge came after the company announced it was on its way to becoming a $2 billion mid-cap business and preparing to unveil new investments in its core lead acid technology.