Duracell batteries
, a brand manufactured by Procter and Gamble

Duracell manufactures alkaline batteries (Duracell batteries) in many common sizes, such as AAA, AA, C, D, and 9V. Lesser used sizes such as AAAA (primarily for pagers, penlights, and blood glucose meters) and J size batteries (for hospital devices) are also manufactured along with a range of "button" batteries using Zinc-air chemistry, used in calculators, hearing aids, and other small (mostly medical related) devices. Duracell began selling Dane-Elec products such as flash memory in 2008.[2]

Duracell also manufactures specialty batteries, including NiMH rechargeable batteries and batteries for cameras, watches, hearing aids, etc. Their two main battery brands are "Coppertop," marketed as longer-lasting, and "Ultra," directed mainly at users of digital devices and devices that need more power. Duracell also has a line of lithium chemistry batteries and products, now manufactured outside of the U.S.

A Duracell Procell AA box with the battery superimposed

In recent years, Duracell's innovations expanded to include new battery designs with their prismatic batteries, which are prismatic in shape rather than cylindrical. Prismatic cells were made available in both alkaline and lithium designs. In 2006, Duracell introduced "Power PixTM" batteries with NiOx technology, designed to supply longer life in digital cameras and other high drain devices by up to twice the number of photos typically achievable with alkaline batteries.

Duracell batteries are also bulk packaged for end users under the brand name Procell.

[edit] History

Duracell originated via the partnership of scientist Samuel Ruben and businessman Philip Rogers Mallory, who met during the 1920s. The P.R. Mallory Company produced mercury cells for military equipment use, trumping the Zn-air battery technology used then in virtually all applications. During the late 1970s, when the company's concerns for the now-known effects of mercury began, mercury quickly became an obsolete ingredient in all their manufacturing processes. It was replaced by alkaline technology.

During the 1950s, Kodak introduced cameras with integral flash: the design required a new cell size, and thus size AAA was developed.

In 1964, the term "Duracell" was formally introduced as a brand. The name is a portmanteau for "durable cell."


P.R. Mallory was acquired by Dart Industries in 1978, which in turn merged with Kraft in 1980. Kohlberg Kravis Roberts bought Duracell in 1988 and took the company public in 1989. It was acquired by Gillette in 1996.

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Source: http://www.a1articles.com