First National Battery - Lead Acid Batteries for Automotive and Mining Motive Power, and Miners' Caplamps

First National Battery was established in 1931 when the first automotive batteries were produced in East London, South Africa.

First National Battery is the leading manufacturer of lead acid batteries for automotive, mining motive power, standby, surface traction, forklift, mine lighting, and renewable energy applications. These products are used in more than 40 countries.

Traction batteries for mining applications

As the first South African battery manufacturer to use state-of-the-art spine casting equipment, we are able to produce low antimony – 1.8%Sb – positive plates. First National Battery traction cells achieve capacity within ten cycles.

The benefits of low-antimony positive plates:

• Less frequent topping up
• Lower maintenance
• Reduced operating cost
• Lower risk of overcharge during first-stage charge
• Increased service life

All positive plates are automatically fitted with sleeve separators to ensure that there is no mossing, which eliminates the possibility of short circuits.

Traction cells are fitted with Perfect Seal® bolt-on posts which ensure no acid spillage, and the lid is heat sealed to the container to ensure a homogenous bond. Cells are manufactured to either BS or DIN specifications.

Maintenance-free miners' caplamps

First National Battery is the largest industrial caplamp manufacturer in the Western world. We were the first to manufacture a maintenance-free lead acid caplamp and to date have produced more than four million lamps. These lamps are manufactured using the AGM / VRLA technology and are spill-proof and extremely durable. They are produced in both 16Ah and 4Ah capacities, and use state-of-the-art LED light sources.

Environmentally friendly lead alloys, battery lids and cases

The problem of pollution in the environment from used batteries is increasingly being recognised. First National Battery is firmly committed to playing its role in protecting the environment through a comprehensive recycling programme and has established a lead smelter capable of recycling more than 17,000t of lead annually. The company produces high-quality lead alloys for its own consumption and the recovery of plastic polymers used in the manufacture of battery lids and cases.

Lead acid batteries and mining equipment

In pursuit of excellence First National Battery has recorded the following quality listings and awards:

• ISO 9001: 2008 - design, manufacturing and marketing systems - Buffalo View Road and Durban
• ISO/TS 16949: 2009 - design, manufacturing, marketing and recycling of lead acid automotive and industrial batteries and injection moulding of plastic components with product design and development – Settlers Way, Fort Jackson, Benoni
• ISO 14001:  2004 – environmental management – Settler’s Way, Buffalo View Road, Benoni
• SANS - IEC 60254 – 1997 – motive power cells
• SANS 1438 – 1997 - minelighting accumulators
• SANS 60896-1 – 1997 - standby power flat plate / planté/ tubular