UK based electro-chemical battery manufacturer Johnson Matthey (JM) Plc has bought Clariant’s lithium-ion battery materials energy storage business for US$75 million.
The acquisition of the Swiss chemical company’s Business Line Energy Storage was announced in October 2014, but only closed on February 28th 2015.
The energy storage business is the largest hydrothermal Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) producer in the world. Its lithium-ion cathode material is used in electric vehicles and stationary battery applications.
The transaction covers all of Clariant’s Energy Storage business’ assets, including its Canadian manufacturing facility in Quebec, an R&D centre and pilot plant in Germany.
JM will gain rights to patents on LFP and its use as a cathode material, as well as Clariant’s IP portfolio covering current and future battery materials.
The acquisition dove-tails with JM’s Battery Technologies business division which has advanced battery material R&D programmes and Johnson Matthey Battery Systems (formerly Axeon), which specialises in the design, development and manufacture of integrated battery systems.
JM’s battery company works with chemistries, including NiMH, NiCd and lithium-ion, and with both primary (single-use/disposable) and secondary (rechargeable) cells from as little as 1 or 2 Wh up to 180 kWh, and from 2.4 Volts to 615 Volts.