23-04-2013, 07:10 AM
The whole article epitomises what happened to many British icons. Chronic bad top management, arrogance, and eventually savage cuts. I was made redundant twice in that period and experienced it for myself.
Interestingly though, Varta went through a similar boom and bust in the late 90s. Their R&D section was split, with the lithium polymer boys doing an employee buyout. They set up a business in Leipzig called Ionity which was later subsumed into Danionics, which itself was gobbled up by Cameron Sino Technology - everything being shipped to mainland China. I suppose Varta is now seen as a top producer of heavy traction and leisure batteries. Even their consumer batteries are no longer really made by them, only labelled.
Nostalgia ain't what it used to be!
Colin
Interestingly though, Varta went through a similar boom and bust in the late 90s. Their R&D section was split, with the lithium polymer boys doing an employee buyout. They set up a business in Leipzig called Ionity which was later subsumed into Danionics, which itself was gobbled up by Cameron Sino Technology - everything being shipped to mainland China. I suppose Varta is now seen as a top producer of heavy traction and leisure batteries. Even their consumer batteries are no longer really made by them, only labelled.
Nostalgia ain't what it used to be!
Colin
