MILWAUKEE, June 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson Controls, Inc. (NYSE: JCI) and MAC S.A. have launched their joint venture in Colombia to produce and sell lead-acid batteries in the Central and South American regions. The companies announced their plan to join forces in October 2010 in order to better serve customers as market leaders in these fast-developing emerging markets. Johnson Controls is a global diversified company in the building and automotive industry, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis. MAC S.A. is an automotive battery supplier based in Yumbo, close to the city of Cali, Colombia.
Johnson Controls sells several key brands of batteries in Latin America, including Heliar®, VARTA®, LTH® and OPTIMA®. The company is the market leader for automotive batteries in South America.
MAC is the most recognized brand in Colombia for automotive batteries, and has a strong presence in the Central and South American regions and in the Caribbean, selling to the aftermarket and to major automakers.
Working together, the two companies will expand their footprint, bringing new technology and innovation to the market and increasing their exports from Colombia, mainly to the countries in the Andean Region.
In addition to manufacturing batteries, MAC owns a recycling facility in Yumbo, Colombia, which currently recycles 30,000 tons of lead annually, the equivalent of 3 million batteries per year.
This joint venture reflects Johnson Controls' commitment to the region as an important part of its strategic focus on global growth in emerging markets and vertical integration through investments in lead recycling capability.
About Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in over 150 countries. Our 142,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; automotive batteries; and interior systems for automobiles. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through our growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful. In 2011, Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Johnson Controls as the #1 company in its annual "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com.
About Johnson Controls Power Solutions
Johnson Controls Power Solutions is the global leader in lead-acid starter batteries and advanced lead-acid batteries for Start-Stop vehicles. Our 35 manufacturing facilities supply more than one third of the world's lead-acid batteries to major auto makers and aftermarket retailers. Through our innovations we are building the advanced battery industry for more fuel efficient and sustainable vehicles. Our commitment to sustainability is evidenced by our world-class technology, manufacturing and recycling capabilities.
About MAC S.A.
MAC S.A. is a Colombian company founded in 1957. Its activity is dedicated to the production, distribution and sale of lead - acid battery types for both cars and heavy-duty applications in the Colombian market and in over 25 other countries in North, Central and South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Africa.
Its production facilities are vertically integrated, with the production of much of its own raw materials using highly technical processes that are environmentally friendly for the recycling of used batteries. Its production capacity reaches 3,400,000 batteries per year. Nearly 64% of its production is being exported to world markets.
MAC S.A. has the broadest distribution network in the Andean Region, through direct investments in its own branches in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Today the company creates more than 600 direct jobs and thousands of indirect employment opportunities through its marketing and supply networks.
MAC S.A. is a Colombian multinational enterprise that is full of energy, committed to the protection of the environment and social development, focused on its global expansion, and seeking to be a main player in the world markets by offering products and services with technology and environmental sensibility.
SOURCE Johnson Controls, Inc.
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