Asahi Kasei to Assemble a Lithium-ion Battery Separator Plant in Canada | 2024 | Information

April 25, 2024
Asahi Kasei Corp.

Asahi Kasei introduced right this moment that it’ll assemble an built-in plant in Ontario, Canada for the bottom movie manufacturing and coating of Hipore™ wet-process lithium-ion battery (LIB) separator¹. In relation to this plant, Asahi Kasei has concluded a primary settlement with Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda) and the 2 events are at the moment finding out joint funding. Additionally with regard to the Canadian plant, it has been agreed that Asahi Kasei Battery Separator Corp.², which is scheduled to be established in October 2024, will obtain funding from the Improvement Financial institution of Japan Inc. (DBJ) by the issuance of most popular shares. Moreover, receipt of monetary help from the federal authorities of Canada and the provincial authorities of Ontario relating to this funding is anticipated.

Define of the Canadian funding (plant development)

1) Location

Ontario, Canada

2) Plant overview

Built-in plant for the bottom movie manufacturing and coating of Hipore™ lithium-ion battery separator

3) Whole funding quantity

Roughly ¥180 billion

4) Manufacturing capability

Roughly 700 million m² per 12 months (as coated movie)

5) Begin of operation

Business start-up scheduled in 2027

The mandatory funds for this funding shall be offered to ES Supplies Canada Corp., the Canadian separator enterprise firm, and E-Supplies Canada Corp., the native manufacturing firm liable for plant development and manufacturing, by ES Supplies Holdings Corp., the North American separator enterprise firm.

1. The separator enterprise in Asahi Kasei

Asahi Kasei positions its Power Storage associated enterprise as one of many “10 Growth Gears” (GG10) anticipated to drive future progress in its medium-term administration plan for fiscal 2024, which is concentrated on the theme “Be a Trailblazer.” The core of its Power Storage enterprise is Hipore™ wet-process LIB separator, which has been main technological innovation primarily based on over 40 years of enterprise historical past, and is at the moment increasing its gross sales in automotive purposes along with client electronics purposes.

To satisfy North American demand for battery separator for plug-in electrical automobiles and to affix North American LIB provide chains being established, partially as an impact of governmental clear power insurance policies, the choice was made to assemble an LIB separator manufacturing plant in Ontario, Canada.

2. Primary settlement with Honda

Asahi Kasei and Honda have reached a primary settlement primarily based on the shared understanding that it’s important to determine a provide chain for the steady provide of high-performance batteries for the North American plug-in electrical automobile market, which is anticipated to develop over the medium to long run. Research are advancing for the institution of a three way partnership to fabricate Hipore™ separator for batteries put in in EVs made by Honda and different automobile producers for the North American market.

“To achieve carbon neutrality, Honda is targeting 100% of global sales from EVs and FCVs by 2040,” stated Manabu Ozawa, Managing Government Officer of Honda. “The separator is an extremely important component that contributes to higher performance and durability of batteries that are essential to EVs. We are very excited to partner with Asahi Kasei, having outstanding technological capability and broad expertise regarding separators. This will allow us to realize highly competitive EVs that can meet future growing demand in the North American market.”

“The Hipore™ business will play an important role in Asahi Kasei’s growth over the medium term,” added Hiroyoshi Matsuyama, Senior Government Officer of Asahi Kasei. “Capturing market growth in North America will be essential for us. This partnership with Honda, having a rich track record in the North American automotive market and aggressively electrifying its vehicle lineup, allows us to make a meaningful contribution to improvement of LIB performance in light of anticipated growth in the electric vehicle market and the energy transition in North America.”

3. Financing from DBJ

In developing a producing plant for Hipore™ separator in Canada, it has been determined that Asahi Kasei Battery Separator Corp. will obtain funding of ¥28 billion by issuing most popular shares to DBJ as a venture that enhances the competitiveness of LIB separator enterprise and strengthens LIB elements provide functionality.

4. Monetary and Different Authorities Assist

Asahi Kasei strives to attain sufficient manufacturing scale in accordance with market growth whereas lowering funding threat, and expects to obtain monetary help from the federal authorities of Canada and the provincial authorities of Ontario, by its funding attraction company, Make investments Ontario, along with help underneath the September 2023 memorandum of understanding between Canada and Japan regarding battery provide chains.

Information