Key dates of the Saft group
1918: Société des Accumulateurs Fixes et de Traction (Saft S.A.) is founded in France by two Swiss electrochemists to manufacture and distribute nickel-based batteries for industrial applications and storehouse trolleys.
1924: Admission of the shares of Saft S.A. for listing on the Paris Bourse.
1928: Acquisition of Saft by Compagnie Générale d’Electricité (which later became Alcatel).
1940-1980: Saft develops its operations in the United Kingdom (1940s) and in the United States (1970s). In the early 1980s, Saft commences operations in Asia (Singapore).
1995: Alcatel repurchases all the shares of Saft S.A. that were de-listed in 1995. Saft S.A.’s shares are listed on the Paris Stock Exchange. In the early 1990s, Alcatel acquires 100% of Saft S.A.’s shares, and in 1995 the listing is terminated. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Group acquires two of its major competitors, Nife and Alcad, as well as the Czech company Ferak, to strengthen its position in the industrial battery market.
2000: Acquisition of Tadiran, an Israeli manufacturer of lithium batteries, with operations in Israel, the United States and Germany, including a 50% stake in Sonnenschein Lithium in Germany.
2001: Saft significantly downsizes its rechargeable battery division (now the RBS division), through the closure of a manufacturing facility in Tijuana, Mexico and the sale of its battery assembly facility in Korea and its Uniross distribution facility, resulting in a workforce reduction of approximately 1,300 employees. Acquisition of Hawker Eternacell, a leading provider of lithium batteries to the US and UK armed forces. Saft also increases its stake in ASB from 22% to 50%, and increases its stake in Sonnenschein Lithium from 50% to 100%. All of these companies are now part of its SBG Division.
2003: Acquisition of the German company Friemann und Wolf Batterietechnik GmbH (Friwo), and the assets of Emisa and Centra, from Exide. These companies produce industrial Ni-Cd batteries, lithium batteries for the defence industry and batteries for torpedoes.
January 2004: Acquisition from Alcatel of all of the Group’s businesses by the Doughty Hanson Funds.
2004-2005: Admission of Saft shares on the Eurolist by Euronext on June 29, 2005.
In July 2005 Saft signs an agreement with Amalgamations private Ltd, a privately owned Indian company, to purchase a 51% stake in its battery business, AMCO Power Systems Ltd (APSL), based in Bangalore.
January 2006: Saft and Johnson Controls Inc. a leading supplier of automotive components, announce the launch their joint venture to develop, produce and sell advanced technology batteries for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs). Saft has contributed for a 49% stake in the new company : Johnson Controls-Saft Advanced Power Solutions.
February 2006: Saft takes the control of AMCO Power Systems Ltd (APSL), based in Bangalore, the nickel-cadmium battery business of Amalgamations private Ltd. The entity is called AMCO-Saft India Ltd.
May 2006: EADS and Saft America combine their expertise in the field of thermal batteries via ASB to form the new subsidiary Advanced Thermal Batteries Inc. Located in Cockeysville, Maryland.
April 2007: Doughty Hanson placed their remaining 36.6% stake.
January 2008: Johnson Controls-Saft Opens World’s First Production Facility for lithium-ion Hybrid Vehicle Batteries. The plant, based in Nersac, France, is dedicated to the manufacture of advanced lithium-ion batteries for hybrid, plug-in, fuel cell and electric vehicles and is the first of its kind in the world.