Chemical companies BASF and Toda Kogyo have teamed up to launch a joint venture firm based in Japan to manufacture cathode active materials (CAM) for use in lithium-ion batteries.
The company BASF Toda Battery Materials will focus on the research and development, production, marketing and sales for cathode materials for the automotive, consumer electronics, and stationary storage markets.
The new company will concentrate on Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide, Lithium Manganese Oxide and Nickel Cobalt Manganese materials for its cathodes.
It will have headquarters in Minato-ku, Tokyo, and production facilities in Sanyo-Onoda city, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and Kita Kyushu city, Fukuoka prefecture, Japan.
Combined, the companies have an annual combined production capacity for cathode active materials and their precursors of around 18,000 metric tons.
Yasuo Anno, who most recently served as Associate Senior Corporate Executive Officer, Toda Kogyo, and President of Toda Energy Materials, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the new venture.
Kenneth Lane, President of BASF’s Catalysts division, said: “We look forward to developing the business in Japan, which is a global leader in lithium-ion battery manufacturing and innovation.”
Shigeru Takaragi, President of Japanese company Toda Kogyo, said the joint venture would respond to the expanding global market for lithium-ion battery cathode materials.
BASF Toda Battery Materials will operate as part of BASF’s global Battery Materials business. It was established with 66% equity from BASF Japan and 34% from Toda Kogyo.
Picture: (Left) Dr. Joerg Christian Steck, Representative Director & President of BASF Japan, (Right) Mr. Shigeru Takaragi, President, TODA KOGYO CORP.
