October 9, 2020: Stefano Lorenzini has joined Wirtz Manufacturing as regional sales manager for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Russia the company announced on October 6.

Lorenzini began at Wirtz on October 1. He previously had spent 28 years with Sovema, the international battery machine manufacturing firm.

He takes over from Eric Donjon who left Wirtz early in the Covid lockdown.

Speaking to BESB, Lorenzini thanked Sovema for the years of experience he had enjoyed with the firm, saying it was that which had made him what he was.

“But after 28 years you need some fresh air,” he said, “it was time for a change. But of course I wish them well, I am what I am thanks to Sovema, it’s a part of my past and my experience and I have to thank them for everything we did together.”

Wirtz, said Lorenzini, was a historical company with a good name in the battery business. “I can see a future in this kind of company. It’s big enough that it will give me the potential to use my experience with Sovema in all the different fields and processes of battery manufacturing,” he said.

“I feel a responsibility for my customers and they trust me to build something with them.”

Lorenzini sees many years of growth ahead for the lead battery business, as long as it continues to develop. “You cannot change a technology that’s been in place for so long in a couple of years,” he said. “But you have to continue developing or you can find yourself left behind in the dust.”

If the surname sounds familiar in the lead battery industry it should be — Stefano is married to Claudia Lorenzini, the charismatic and popular vice president for sales and marketing at separator firm Microporous.

“We are delighted to welcome Stefano into our company,” said Doug Lambert, vice president of sales and technology.