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Asahi Kasei has officially selected Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada, as the site for its new lithium-ion battery (LIB) separator plant. This facility, named Asahi Kasei Battery Separator Canada, will generate highly skilled, well-paying jobs in manufacturing and construction, with commercial production set to begin in 2027.
Key Highlights:
- Location: Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada
- Commercial Production Start: 2027
- Investment: 180 billion JPY (CAD$ 1.56 billion)
- Annual Production Capacity: 700 million square meters of Hipore™ separators
- Support: Ontario provincial government and federal Clean Technology Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit (ITC)
Koshiro Kudo, President & Representative Director of Asahi Kasei Corporation, emphasized the strategic importance of the new facility:
“As demand for electric vehicles – and the lithium-ion batteries that power them – continues to rise, we are eager to bring the first Hipore™ wet-process lithium-ion separator manufacturing facility to Canada. Backed by the abundant renewable resources, skilled talent and strong local community support here in Port Colborne, we will be able to better serve our partners in the region as well as the broader North American automotive market from this facility.”
The Port Colborne plant will produce Hipore™ wet-process separators, essential components in LIBs used in electric vehicles (EVs) and other energy storage applications. These separators are highly engineered and critical for the performance and safety of lithium-ion batteries.
On April 25, 2024, Asahi Kasei announced its significant investment of approximately 180 billion JPY (CAD$ 1.56 billion) to establish the facility with an annual production capacity of 700 million square meters of Hipore™ separators.
Support and Incentives:
- The Ontario provincial government, through Invest Ontario, supports the project.
- The federal government’s new Clean Technology Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit (ITC) provides additional incentives.
About Asahi Kasei Corporation
The Asahi Kasei Group, a diversified global company, operates in the Material, Homes, and Health Care sectors. Founded in Japan in 1922, the company boasts over 100 years of manufacturing expertise and is a pioneer in battery-related technology. The core of its Energy Storage business is the lithium-ion battery separator – a microporous membrane that prevents short circuits while allowing lithium ions to pass through the battery, ensuring safety and efficiency.
For more information about Asahi Kasei, visit www.asahi-kasei.com.
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