Bren-Tronics wins $6.2 million contract for lithium-ion batteries

Bren-Tronics Inc., a Commack manufacturer of batteries and charging systems used by the military, has won a contract with an estimated value of more than $6.2 million to produce lithium-ion batteries for U.S. Army vehicles, including Humvees, light tactical vehicles and mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles.

The 44-year-old company has delivered 500 of its 24-volt 6T lithium-ion batteries over the last two years. Under the new contract, Bren-Tronics will upgrade the design and manufacturing processes at its Commack facilities to produce up to 2,000 of the batteries per month.

A Bren-Tronics spokesman said the company has adequate space for the additional production, but expects to hire an unspecified number of additional employees beyond its current head count of more than 200.

“The 6T battery is used in approximately 95 percent of Army tactical ground-vehicle platforms,” Doug Petito, Bren-Tronics vice president of sales and marketing, said Friday in a statement. Petito said the earlier-generation lead-acid version will be unable to meet the Army’s future power demands.

The lithium-ion batteries will be used to start vehicles and provide power for auxiliary devices and ground stations.

By Ken Schachter

kenneth.schachter@newsday.comkschach

Ken Schachter covers corporate news, including technology and aerospace, and other business topics for Newsday. He has also worked at The Miami Herald and The Jerusalem Post.