Johnson Controls Investing $70 Million at Mexico Battery Recycling Plant

Johnson Controls Inc., headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., has announced plans to invest more than $70 million in its automotive battery recycling center in Cienega de Flores, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. The company says the investment will fund the replacement of the facility's existing rotary furnaces with larger, more efficient rotary furnaces. The company also invested in additional environmental control technologies at the facility.

Allen Martin, vice president and general manager, Americas, for Johnson Controls Power Solutions, says, "This investment is part of our overall strategy to grow recycling capacity in North America. Our continuing upgrades ensure this facility will be among the most environmentally advanced battery recycling operations in the world, reinforcing our commitment to both U.S. and Mexican air emission standards."

Mike Carr, vice president and general manager for Johnson Controls Power Solutions Americas Recycling Business, "Our recycling operations in Mexico are already well below the current U.S. standard for employee blood lead levels and substantially better than the average performance of competitive U.S. recycling facilities. With these enhancements to our Cienega facility, we continue to establish industry-leading benchmarks for the safety and health of our employees."

Martin adds, "Johnson Controls has a long history of manufacturing and recycling batteries safely and responsibly. We are committed to acting responsibly to safely transport and recycle batteries. Furthermore, as a global leader we are committed to continuing to be an industry leader to minimize the impact our industry has on the environment."