XANTHI, Greece – Sunlight Systems raised the percentage of its exports to 92 pct in 2017, from 84 pct the previous year, to more than 100 countries around the world, while it seeks to further enhance its position in the markets of Europe and America, focusing on new and innovative products designed by its R&D team based in Xanthi, Vasilis Billis, chairman and CEO of the company said.

Speaking to reporters, Billis said 2017 was a year of high performance for the company and that Sunlight Systems was focusing on America to expand its battery products for forklift vehicles and particularly in the US and Canada. The company has set up a subsidiary in Italy, Reliable Battery Solutions Srl, an investment which began in November, while a production unit located in Verona will begin operations in May.

Billis said an investment on new more efficient equipment, worth 4.3 million euros, in the production factory in Neo Olvio, Xanthi, led to a 24 pct increase in production, with the company reporting an annual production of 1.9 million units, a new historic record, making Sunlight’s factory the top factory in Europe in the production of industrial batteries.

Sunlight Systems enhanced its cooperation with Hyster-Yale, the sixth largest manufacturer of forklift vehicles in the world and continued efforts to expand its distribution network and sales in the American market.

The company’s workforce totals 820 workers, up 74 in 2017 and almost doubled in the last four years.