Exhibit 99.1


                                                         1400 Union Meeting Road
                                                         Blue Bell, PA 19422
                                                         Phone:   215-619-2700

Shareholder Contacts:
Stephen E. Markert, Jr. of C&D: 215-619-7835
Yanis Bibelnieks for C&D: 718-499-6516


            C&D TECHNOLOGIES TO PURCHASE FACILITY FROM MATSUSHITA FOR
            INDUSTRIAL LEAD ACID BATTERY PRODUCTION IN NORTH AMERICA

BLUE BELL, PA, September 9, 2003 - C&D Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: CHP), a leading
North American  producer and marketer of electrical power storage and conversion
products used in telecommunications and industrial applications, today announced
that it had signed an agreement to purchase certain assets of Matsushita Battery
Industrial  Corporation of America and Matsushita  Battery Industrial de Mexico,
S.A. de C.V. for manufacturing certain industrial lead-acid stationary batteries
in North America.  The  transaction is expected to close in late September 2003.
Acquired  assets  include a 240,000  square  foot  facility,  built in 1998,  in
Reynosa,  Mexico and the equipment in the facility used for the  manufacture  of
large, valve regulated lead acid batteries for standby power applications.

In addition,  C&D has entered into a worldwide technology license agreement with
Matsushita  Battery  Industrial  Co.  Ltd.  of Japan for  selected  patents  and
know-how relating to the above manufacturing technology.

In  connection  with  the  transaction,  C & D  anticipates  transition  of some
Matsushita customers to C & D during the fourth quarter of this calendar year.

"This  purchase  will  clearly   complement  C&D's   worldwide,   cost-effective
manufacturing  capabilities,"  said Wade H. Roberts,  Jr.,  C&D's  president and
chief executive  officer.  "At the new facility,  we will initially be producing
the MSE type  product for  distribution  by C&D,  while  concurrently  reviewing
opportunities  for further  cost  consolidation  throughout  our North  American
operations.  We further  anticipate the licensed  technology will yield superior
products for our customers," Mr. Roberts stated.

Certain  statements in this press release  should be considered  forward-looking
(since they may describe the company's future plans or goals) and are subject to
various risks and uncertainties including the possibility,  however remote, that
the described  transaction is not finally consummated.  Factors that appear with
the  forward-looking  statements,  or in the company's  Securities  and Exchange
Commission  filings (including without limitation the company's annual report on
Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended  January 31, 2003) could cause the company's
actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any  forward-looking
statements.

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