Thai Storage Battery Increases Production

Thai Storage Battery plans to increase its production capacity by 50%, reports the Bangkok Post. The company’s 3K batteries rank second in Thailand with a 26% share of the automobile replacement battery market.

Director Veerawat Korphaibool said that after three years the local battery market has recovered and was expected to grow 6% in 2003 to 3 to 3.5 million units. Demand is projected to increase this year by 6% to 10%.

He said the 3K factory in the Bang Poo Industrial Estate had been running at maximum capacity, producing batteries for automobiles and motorcycles at a rate of 2.4 million units each per year for the last several months.

“We could possibly raise capacity for automobile batteries to 300,000 units a month from the current 200,000 units,” he said, adding that the expansion could take place some time next year.

Korphaibool declined to give specific details on the possible investment but said the company had spent approximately $2.6 million to purchase 17 rai of land near the existing factory for the expansion phase.