13 Dec 2011
Süd-Chemie and LG Chem to jointly manufacture high quality Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP)
- Faster market penetration of Lithium Iron Phosphate
Muttenz, December 13, 2011 – Süd-Chemie AG, a Clariant Group Company, and LG Chem, Ltd., Seoul/Korea, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a joint venture for high volume production of superior quality Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP).
LFP is a cost effective, safe and eco-friendly cathode material for use in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Süd-Chemie, a member of the LFP licensing alliance with several years of experience in manufacturing and marketing LFP, expects to have synergy effects by creating a joint venture with LG, a world leading lithium-ion battery producer.
The joint venture will lay the foundation for reliable sources of LFP with regard to the rapidly growing use of lithium-ion batteries for on-site energy storage, for instance solar energy and popular smart grid applications, and for electric and hybrid automobile drives. The joint venture will predominantly provide stable supplies of LFP to LG Chem, and also provide global leading battery company as a customer to Süd-Chemie.
It is the mutual objective to improve LFP by combining process technology of LG Chem and manufacturing technology of Süd-Chemie, which fosters the growth of the market for lithium-ion batteries and the use of LFP especially for applications demanding very long life. At later stage, the joint development of other advanced olivine structure materials such as Lithium Manganese Iron Phosphate (LFMP) is also in plan. LFMP cathode materials allow for batteries with higher energy density while maintaining the advantages of LFP.
Peter Bahnsuk Kim, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of LG Chem, Ltd. commented on the joint venture: “This joint venture with Süd-Chemie is very meaningful to LG Chem in the way that it enables us to have strong competitiveness in the field of rapidly growing high capacity lithium-ion battery for Energy Storage System (ESS) and in vehicle applications. It is possible to manufacture high performance as well as cost effective product by combining unique technologies and manufacturing know-how of both companies.”
Dr. Günter von Au, Chairman of the Managing Board (CEO) of Süd-Chemie AG, said: “This partnership is of central strategic importance to Süd-Chemie. With LG as a partner, LFP will establish itself as a storage material for large high-performance batteries. The joint venture puts us in an excellent position in the fast-growing market for battery materials.”
Reader enquiries
Clariant International Ltd
Rothausstrasse 61
4132 Muttenz 1
Switzerland
Notes for editors
About Clariant
Clariant is an internationally active specialty chemical company based in Muttenz near Basel. The group owns over 100 companies worldwide and employed approx. 16,200 employees as of December 31, 2010.
In the financial year 2010, Clariant produced a turnover in excess of CHF 7.1 billion. Clariant is divided into twelve business units: Additives; Catalysis & Energy; Detergents & Intermediates; Emulsions; Functional Materials; Industrial & Consumer Specialties; Leather Services; Masterbatches; Oil & Mining Services; Paper Specialties; Pigments; Textile Chemicals
About Süd-Chemie
Süd-Chemie, a member of the Clariant Group, Muttenz, Switzerland, is a specialty chemicals company quoted on the stock exchange in Germany (ISIN: DE0007292005; WKN: 729200). The common denominator of all Süd-Chemie products and services is the efficient and sparing use of natural resources to enhance the quality of life for humans and the environment. Having its headquarters in Munich, it operates on a worldwide scale. Products manufactured by the Catalysis & Energy Business Unit offer solutions for the chemical, petrochemical and refinery industries, for energy storage and hydrogen production, as well as off-gas purification. Key markets served by the Functional Materials Business Unit include the consumer goods, packaging and foundry industries, as well water treatment. Süd-Chemie generated sales of EUR 1.225 billion in 2010, just under 85% of these with customers outside Germany. On 30 September 2011, the Group employed almost 6,600 people in approximately 120 sales and production companies worldwide.
In its battery materials activities, Süd-Chemie focuses primarily on developing and manufacturing lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4, LFP) – a particularly safe and powerful cathode material. Mainly based on the new site of its Canadian subsidiary, Phostech Lithium Inc. in Candiac/Quebec, Süd-Chemie will start LFP production in 2012 to reach a rate of 2,500 tons per year. Such volume, will allow the production of approximately 50,000 all-electric automobiles or, alternatively, up to 500,000 vehicles with hybrid drive per year.
About LG Chem, Ltd.
LG Chem, Ltd. is Korea’s largest chemical and rechargeable battery maker in terms of both size and performance. The company’s chemical business is vertically integrated and manufactures a wide range of products, from petrochemical goods to high-value added plastics. It also extends its chemical expertise into high-tech areas such as rechargeable batteries and the display materials field. For more information, please visit the LG Chem website at www.lgchem.com.
About LFP Technology
Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4, LFP) is a innovative cathode material that, due to its high performance and unsurpassed safety profile, has a great deal of potential for use in next-generation lithium ion batteries. LFP material was discovered at the University of Texas in Austin in 1995 and licensed to Hydro-Québec. When LFP material is coated with a thin layer of carbon, its conductivity is enhanced allowing LFP’s unique performances. Such layer must be thin enough in order to permit lithium to pass through. These inventions were protected through the LFP carbon coating patents and the LFP carbon coating process patents co-owned by Hydro-Québec, Canada, Université de Montréal, Canada, and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), France.
Editorial enquiries
Patrick Salchow
Süd-Chemie
patrick.salchow@sud-chemie.com
Stefanie Nehlsen
Clariant International Ltd
stefanie.nehlsen@clariant.com
Louie Chung
LG Chem, Ltd.