Indian battery materials manufacturer the Epsilon Group has agreed to acquire Johnson Matthey’s lithium-ion phosphate (LFP) cathode active material technology center in Moosburg, Germany.

The facility boasts “best-in-class technical capabilities and a workforce with expertise in LFP chemistry, comprehensive product and process development capabilities, and a versatile customer qualification plant designed to verify new materials for large-scale production.”

Epsilon says the acquisition will allow it to go to market with a proven high-performance cathode active material produced at scale. By leveraging the existing infrastructure of the Moosburg facility, Epsilon aims to significantly reduce the technology development and scale-up timeframe.

The Moosburg R&D center’s strategic location offers Epsilon a chance to tap into the European battery material talent pool.

Epsilon has ambitious plans to eventually deliver some 100 GWh of cathode materials per year. The company previously announced a $1.1-billion investment in a cathode battery materials manufacturing facility in Bellari, India, and also has plans for a $650-million manufacturing facility in the US.

Cathode materials are a hot commodity—Benchmark Minerals recently estimated that some $40 billion in cathode materials production investments will be needed to bridge the gap between current supply and anticipated demand by 2030.

“At Epsilon, we envision a world galvanized by sustainable energy alternatives,” said Vikram Handa, managing director of Epsilon Group. “Our advancement in anode research and manufacturing was a first step, and this acquisition underscores our commitment to serving our global clientele with sustainable and reliable material.”

Source: Epsilon Group