CBMM, a global specialist in the production of niobium products, has opened a manufacturing facility dedicated to producing Echion Technologies’ proprietary XNO active anode material. The new plant, located in Araxá, Brazil, is capable of producing 2,000 tons per year of XNO, equivalent to 1 GWh of Li-ion cells.

As part of its strategic growth plan, CBMM aims to reach a capacity of 20,000 tons of niobium oxide for batteries by 2030.

The recent ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new plant “marked a significant milestone in the strategic partnership between CBMM and Echion and represents a major step forward in the companies’ joint goal of expanding the use of niobium in battery production.”

Echion says its niobium-based anode material, XNO, enables Li-ion batteries to charge safely at high speeds, maintain high energy densities even at extreme temperatures, and deliver high power across a cycle life of more than 10,000 cycles. XNO has been specifically engineered to power electrified heavy-duty industrial, commercial and mass transit vehicles.

“The opening of this production plant creates robust supply capacity to meet the significant commercial demand we have for XNO,” said Jean de La Verpilliere, CEO of Echion Technologies. “XNO is already having a positive impact on our cell manufacturing customers, downstream OEMs and end users. Echion is beginning to trade at scale, and that is a major milestone for company growth.”

Source: CBMM