Accumulatoren Fabrik AG, Germany’s premier manufacturer of storage batteries for all manner of application, was founded in 1890 by the entrepreneur Adolph Mueller in association with the firms of Siemens und Halske and Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft. With its headquarters and main works at Hagen in the Ruhr it remains the principal manufacturer of portable, industrial and marine batteries in Germany.
The firm’s first subsidiary, VARTA Akkumulatoren GmbH, opened its works in Berlin-Oberschöneweide to manufacture starter batteries for the automotive industry. In 1910 the firm acquired Grubenlampenfabrik Dominit, a manufacturer of safety lamps for mining, and in 1913 followed this with the purchase of the Deutsche Edison Accumulatoren Compagnie, a manufacturer of steel alkali batteries. A major change in the firm’s orientation was the acquisition in 1923 of the Pertrix Chemische Fabrik of Hamburg, a manufacturer of dry cell batteries for use in electric torches, wireless equipment and other household applications. In 1928 the work of Pertrix was relocated to a new factory in Berlin- Niederschöneweide.
In July 1937 ground was broken for a state-of-the-art production facility in Hannover-Stöcken, consisting of six ground floor production halls, and facilities that included areas for lead recycling, lead powder storage, rubber production, and a foundry. This new facility was to manufacture power supply batteries, such as those used for submarines, and starter batteries for cars, trucks, and other vehicles.
Subsidiaries of the firm include:
Akkumulatorenwerke GmbH, Hannover-Stöcken (power supply batteries)
Deutsche Edison Accumulatoren AG, Ellwangen (steel alkali batteries)
Grubenlampenfabrik Dominit AG, Dortmund (mining safety lamps)
Pertrix-Werk AG, Berlin-Niederschöneweide (disposable dry cell batteries)
VARTA Akkumulatoren GmbH, Berlin-Oberschöneweide (starter batteries and other portable batteries)
Affiliates of the firm include:
Gesellschaft für elektrische Zugbeleuchtung, Hagen (batteries for railway applications)