Saft (company)
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Battery manufacturing |
| Founded | 1918 |
| Founder | Victor Hérold |
| Headquarters | France |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Batteries for transportation, industrial applications, defense sectors |
| Parent | TotalEnergies |
Saft is a French enterprise focused on the design, development, and production of batteries tailored for transportation, industrial applications, and defense sectors. With its headquarters located in France, the company maintains a global operational presence.
Established in 1918 by Victor Hérold, Saft was publicly traded from 1924 until 1995, then again from 2004 until it became a subsidiary of TotalEnergies in 2016.
Early Years
The company, originally named Société des Accumulateurs Fixes et de Traction (Saft), was founded by Victor Hérold in 1918. Prior to founding Saft, Hérold had been manufacturing batteries since 1913 for use in luggage carts and locomotive lighting at the Paris-Lyon-Marseille railway company (PLM).Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Saft entered the stock market partially in 1924 on the Paris Bourse.[1] In 1928, it became a subsidiary of Compagnie Générale Electrique (Alcatel).
By 1949, Saft had launched an innovative alkaline battery and broadened its market reach to include power generation facilities, telecommunication networks, and various industrial sectors. The introduction of sintered plate technology marked a significant advancement that benefited the aerospace industry. A notable achievement came in 1953 when Saft secured a substantial contract with the US Naval Air Command for 2,000 units of 24V batteries.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
In 1980, Saft collaborated with PSA Peugeot Citroën to investigate battery technologies for electric vehicles. This period also saw increased investment in state-of-the-art robotic production lines.[2]
International Expansion
Starting in the 1940s, Saft extended its footprint globally by establishing subsidiaries in countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, and later Singapore. It earned recognition as a premier manufacturer of nickel-cadmium batteries, especially serving aviation and rail transport industries. In 1995, Alcatel completed its acquisition of Saft and integrated competitors including Nife, Alcad, and the Czech company Ferak. Following divestments of plants in South Korea and Mexico in 2001, Saft enhanced its lithium battery portfolio by acquiring Hawker Eternacell from Invensys plc to support military clients in the US and UK. Additionally, it took control of American companies ASB and Sonnenschein Lithium. The expansion continued in 2003 with the purchase of Germany’s Friemann und Wolf Batterietechnik GmbH (Friwo) alongside assets acquired from Exide’s Emisa and Centra divisions.
Doughty Hanson Funds Ownership
In 2004, private equity firm Doughty Hanson Funds purchased Saft from Alcatel for €900 million and subsequently listed the company on Euronext in June that year. The following year, Saft acquired a majority 51% interest in AMCO Power Systems Ltd through a partnership with Amalgamations Private Ltd. In 2006, Saft entered into a joint venture with Johnson Controls Inc named Johnson Controls-Saft Advanced Power Solutions LLC to develop cutting-edge batteries aimed at hybrid and electric vehicles. February 2006 marked Saft’s full acquisition of AMCO Power Systems, which was renamed AMCO-Saft India Ltd. Furthermore, in May of that year, EADS teamed up with Saft America to create Advanced Thermal Batteries Inc targeting military applications.
Doughty Hanson exited its investment position in April 2007 by selling shares via Goldman Sachs International, resulting in most shares becoming publicly traded on the market.
Development and Decline of the Johnson Controls Partnership
In January 2008, Johnson Controls-Saft inaugurated its inaugural manufacturing plant for lithium-ion batteries designed for hybrid vehicles in Nersac, France. By 2009, Johnson Controls-Saft initiated the construction of a lithium-ion battery facility in Michigan, while Saft simultaneously developed another site in Florida. Although the collaboration initially showed potential, Johnson Controls became increasingly dissatisfied with the limitations imposed by the partnership and sought a more advantageous alliance. Consequently, in May 2011, Johnson Controls petitioned the Delaware Court of Chancery to dissolve Johnson Controls-Saft Advanced Power Solutions LLC. The two companies consented to part ways, with Johnson Controls compensating Saft $145 million for its equity stake and specific technology rights. Post-separation, Johnson Controls retained ownership of the Michigan plant, whereas Saft assumed control over the joint facility in France.
Projects and current status
Following the termination of its joint venture with Johnson Controls and a subsequent debt refinancing, Saft pursued accelerated expansion through acquisitions in 2012. In February 2013, concerns arose when Boeing's 787 Dreamliner encountered battery failures, prompting Airbus to abandon lithium-ion batteries for its A350 model. Although Saft was affected due to its supply agreement, the company reported only minor repercussions.
In July 2013, Saft secured a $6.5 million contract to deliver high-power lithium-ion batteries for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jet. Additionally, Saft supplies batteries for the Exagon Furtive-eGT electric sports car, featuring cells capable of enduring 3,000 charge cycles while maintaining 80% of their original capacity.
TotalEnergies completed a full acquisition of Saft in 2016, resulting in Saft's removal from public stock exchange listings. In 2020, Saft partnered with the Stellantis Group to establish the Automotive Cell Company (AAC), a joint venture dedicated to developing and manufacturing lithium cells for electric vehicles. AAC’s plans include launching a pilot production facility at Saft’s Nersac location, followed by a gigafactory in Douvrin, Hauts-de-France, and subsequently another plant in Kaiserslautern, Germany.
Aerospace, Defense, and Performance (ADP)
The Aerospace, Defense, and Performance division produces nickel-based, lithium-ion, and silver-based battery solutions utilized in:
Aerospace applications:
- Backup and emergency power systems.
- Aircraft engine and turbine starting mechanisms.
- Communications satellites as well as scientific and observation satellites.
- Space launch vehicles and spacecraft.
Defense sectors:
- Weaponry and torpedo systems.
- Military aircraft.
- Armored military vehicles.
Performance markets:
- Formula 1 and Formula E motorsports.
- Workboats, ferries, cruise ships, and luxury yachts.
- Cargo ships and offshore vessels.
Connected Smart Energy (CSE)
This segment manufactures primary lithium batteries (including Li-SOCl2, Li-MnO2, Li-SO2, Hybrid types) alongside lithium-ion batteries serving:
- Smart metering technologies.
- Electronic toll collection systems.
- Ecall emergency response devices.
- Asset tracking solutions.
- Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) applications.
- Medical instrumentation.
- Portable military gear.
- Oil exploration equipment.
- Environmental monitoring tools.
- Security infrastructure.
Energy Storage Systems (ESS)
The ESS division specializes in lithium-ion battery systems designed for:
- Energy storage applications that support grid services and renewable energy integration.
- Microgrid implementations within commercial and industrial environments.
Industry, Mobility, and Infrastructure (IMI)
IMI specializes in manufacturing nickel-based technology and lithium-ion battery solutions for the following sectors:
Industry
- Providing emergency backup, starting energy, and cycling capabilities within the Oil & Gas sector.
- Supporting power generation and distribution networks.
Mobility
- Enabling the electrification of industrial vehicles.
- Supplying onboard backup power for rail applications such as lighting, air conditioning, and communication systems.
- Ensuring critical safety functions on railways including emergency braking and door operation.
- Delivering traction systems for railway vehicles.
Infrastructure
- Supporting railway signaling operations.
- Offering backup power solutions for telecommunications infrastructure.