Evonik, the German chemical company, is set to make its first foray into Asia with a mid-double-digit million euro investment in a fumed aluminium oxide plant in Yokkaichi, Japan. The facility will focus on producing specialty solutions for lithium-ion battery technologies used in electric vehicles.
The plant is expected to begin construction in the summer of 2023, with operations set to commence in 2025. The new facility will generate additional job opportunities, although no specific numbers have been announced.
Evonik’s new product, Aeroxide, will be used to coat separator foils in ultra-thin coatings for lithium-ion batteries. The company claims that the product will enhance safety features, and improve the charging performance and range of electric cars.
Emmanuel Auer, the Head of Business Line Silica at Evonik, explains that the new solution will provide lithium-ion battery customers with improved performance and safety features, while contributing to higher energy density.
This investment reinforces Evonik’s commitment to the electric vehicle battery market. The company has already invested in SuperC, a Chinese battery specialist that has developed a new process to produce few-layer graphene and pastes for lithium-ion battery electrodes.
With over 50 years of experience, the Yokkaichi site is a joint venture with Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, and specializes in producing pyrogenic metal oxides. The site was selected for the production of aluminium oxide due to its favourable logistics to Japan, China and Korea.
