US battery technology company Forge Nano has formed a strategic partnership with Samsung SDI to establish domestic production of advanced lithium-ion battery cells in the US, with manufacturing expected to begin in 2028.
The agreement will see Samsung SDI provide manufacturing and operational support for Forge Nano’s planned 3GWh/year battery gigafactory in Morrisville, North Carolina. Forge Nano said the collaboration is intended to accelerate the commercialisation of high-performance battery cells for defence, aerospace and energy storage applications while strengthening the US battery supply chain.
Forge Nano expects to invest between $300 million and $330 million in the facility. The project is supported by a previously announced $100 million award negotiation from the US Department of Energy to expand domestic lithium-ion battery manufacturing capacity.
As part of the partnership, Samsung SDI has signed a conditional procurement agreement to purchase battery cells produced at the North Carolina facility from 2028, subject to agreed commercial and production milestones.
A significant step for Forge Nano’s gigafactory ambitions
The announcement represents a significant step for Forge Nano’s battery manufacturing ambitions, which began with plans unveiled in 2023 for a US gigafactory focused on specialised lithium-ion cells. In recent months the company has also announced collaborations to strengthen its domestic battery materials supply chain, including an agreement with Group14 Technologies to integrate silicon-carbon anode materials into its cells.
Forge Nano’s battery technology incorporates its proprietary Atomic Armor atomic layer deposition (ALD) nanocoating process, which the company says improves battery performance by enhancing energy density, cycle life and fast-charging capability while reducing unwanted side reactions.
The partnership adds to Samsung SDI’s growing US manufacturing footprint. The South Korean battery manufacturer already has a number of North American production partnerships and has recently expanded its activities in both the electric vehicle and stationary energy storage sectors.
