It was revealed by Asahi Kasei that it will build an integrated factory in Ontario, Canada, to manufacture base films and coat Hipore wet-process lithium-ion batteries (LIB) separators. Asahi Kasei and Honda Motor (Honda) have reached a fundamental agreement about this factory, and the two are now investigating a combined investment.
Also, with regard to the Canadian plant it has been agreed that Asahi Kasei Battery Separator Corp which is scheduled to be established in October 2024, will receive funding from the Development Bank of Japan Inc.
(DBJ) through the issuance of preferred shares. Furthermore, receipt of financial support from the federal government of Canada and the provincial government of Ontario regarding this investment is expected.
The necessary funds for this investment on lithium-ion battery separator plant will be provided to ES Materials Canada Corp., the Canadian separator business company, and E-Materials Canada Corp., the local manufacturing company responsible for plant construction and manufacturing, through ES Materials Holdings Corp., the North American separator business company.
Through ES Materials Holdings Corp., the North American separator business company, the necessary funds for this investment will be given to ES Materials Canada Corp., the Canadian separator business company, and E-Materials Canada Corp., the local manufacturing company in charge of plant construction and manufacturing.
In its medium-term management strategy for fiscal 2024, which is centered on the theme “Be a Trailblazer,” Asahi Kasei identifies its Energy Storage-related business as one of the “10 Growth Gears” (GG10) intended to fuel future growth.
The Hipore wet-process LIB separator, the foundation of its energy storage business, has been at the forefront of technical innovation for more than 40 years. Based on this heritage, the company is actively extending its sales into automotive applications in addition to consumer electronics applications.
The Asahi Kasei Separator Industry
In its medium-term management strategy for fiscal 2024, which is centered on the theme “Be a Trailblazer,” Asahi Kasei identifies its Energy Storage-related business as one of the “10 Growth Gears” (GG10) intended to fuel future growth.
The Hipore wet-process LIB separator, the foundation of its energy storage business, has been at the forefront of technical innovation for more than 40 years. Based on this heritage, the company is actively extending its sales into automotive applications in addition to consumer electronics applications.
The decision was taken to build a LIB separator manufacturing factory in Ontario, Canada, in order to address the North American demand for battery separator for plug-in electric vehicles and to connect with the North American LIB supply chains that are emerging, partly as a result of national clean energy policies.
“To achieve carbon neutrality, Honda is targeting 100% of global sales from EVs and FCVs by 2040,” said Manabu Ozawa, Managing Executive 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 Executive 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 lithium-ion-battery performance in light of anticipated growth in the electric vehicle market and the energy transition in North America.”
DBJ Financing
As a project that boosts the competitiveness of LIB separator business and strengthens LIB components supply capability, it has been decided that Asahi Kasei Battery Separator Corp. will receive funding of ¥28 billion by issuing preferred shares to DBJ in order to construct a manufacturing plant for Hipore separator in Canada.
