Johnson Controls to Raise Lead Acid Battery Prices

The lead acid battery manufacturer Johnson Controls Inc., headquartered in Milwaukee, has announced plans to increase prices for its lead acid batteries by 8 percent, starting May 1, 2012. The company cited increased environmental, health and safety standards, as well as the investments needed to support them as the reason for the price increase.
 

Alex Molinaroli, Johnson Controls Power Solutions president, says, “Johnson Controls supports the rational tightening of standards such as the National Ambient Air Quality Standard and the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants. It's the right thing to do to keep up with the latest advancements in environmental, health and safety controls. While we believe our facilities are already best-in-class, the standards have tightened ten-fold, so that will require significant investment.”
 

Johnson Controls plans to invest $162 million on its North American recycling centers to ensure they meet the latest environmental standards, as well as an additional $50 million to improve the company's employee blood lead levels at its battery manufacturing facilities.
 

“The investments we're making will be seen throughout the supply chain, ultimately making their way to the consumer,” Molinaroli says. “That said, even with these rising costs, the lead acid battery will remain incredibly efficient and the best dollar-for-dollar value for the vital functions it supports.”