22-04-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
MP visits factory which employs more than 450 people
EnerSys, a leader in stored energy solutions, played host to Jessica Morden, MP for Newport East and chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party, to its Newport factory last week.
The visit highlighted the importance of UK battery manufacturers in supporting national resilience, innovation, and export growth.
Ms Morden was welcomed by senior members of the EnerSys leadership team to discuss engineering innovation, the future of battery manufacturing in the UK, and the Newport plant's valuable contribution to the local and national economy.
During her visit, she met with local engineers, technicians, and apprentices working at the forefront of battery innovation.
She was given a guided tour of the factory and was invited to observe the production process first-hand, where she was introduced to EnerSys' pioneering Thin Plate Pure Lead (TPPL) and lithium-ion battery technologies.
These advanced solutions are designed to meet the evolving demands of key sectors including defence, telecommunications, transportation, and clean energy storage.
As one of the region's major employers, EnerSys employs 450 people at its Newport plant.
The facility has the capacity to produce one million battery blocks per year and exports the majority of its production globally – underscoring its strategic significance in the international energy storage supply chain.
EnerSys batteries are engineered to deliver superior performance and are trusted in applications ranging from data centres and telecommunications infrastructure to transportation networks and both commercial and military aircraft and vehicles worldwide.
Ms Morden said: "I was delighted to visit EnerSys in Newport and see first-hand the strength of our local advanced manufacturing base.
"Facilities like this show why investing in sovereign capability matters, not just for our economy, but for our national infrastructure and future growth."
Tim Gibbons, plant manager at EnerSys Newport, said: "It was a real honour to welcome Jessica Morden to our Newport facility.
"We're incredibly grateful she took the time to visit and experience our production operations first-hand.
"EnerSys is proud to be at the forefront of engineering innovation, and it was a pleasure to showcase our manufacturing capabilities and share our vision for the future."
The EnerSys plant, located on Stephenson Street, was originally built in the 1950s as a motor works and has been producing batteries since 1961.
The 30,000 sqm facility now plays a key role in supplying energy storage solutions to critical industries worldwide.
This visit forms part of a broader campaign to highlight the engineering expertise and advanced manufacturing capabilities of EnerSys.
With UK operations in Newport, Culham, and Manchester, the global manufacturer is a leading supplier of specialised batteries used across defence, transportation, telecommunications, and infrastructure sectors.
