Jun 29 2005
Degussa AG, Dusseldorf, and the Japanese company ENAX, Tokyo, are establishing a joint venture to collaborate in the highly attractive field of materials for lithium-ion batteries. An agreement to this effect has been signed in Shanghai. Both partners will hold a 50 percent stake in the joint venture. ENAX is both the technology provider and the future research partner for the joint venture. Through the joint venture Degussa acquires a worldwide exclusive license to manufacture highly-developed electrodes for lithium-ion batteries.
Once all the approvals have been obtained from the Chinese authorities, the new company will start business operations under the name "Degussa Enax (Anqiu) Power Lion Technologies Co., Ltd.". The joint venture is headquartered in Anqiu, in the northern Chinese province of Shandong. The electrodes are to be produced at the Anqiu site and then used at the ENAX sites at Tianjing near Beijing and at Yonezawa in Japan. The medium term plans include supplying electrodes to other battery manufacturers in the Asia region.
Degussa Management Board Chairman Prof. Utz-Hellmuth Felcht comments: "The new joint venture underlines our determination to systematically expand Degussa’s presence in the attractive markets of Asia. We want to generate 25 percent of Group sales in Asia over the long term."
The global market for lithium-ion battery materials experienced double-digit growth in 2004, and currently amounts to more than 1.2 billion US dollars. Degussa expects the market volume to increase to around 4 billion US dollars by 2015. With its ceramic membrane called SEPARION® the specialty chemicals company had positioned itself at an early stage in this highly promising market.
The new joint venture moves Degussa a decisive step closer to its goal of establishing itself as the preferred system provider for lithium-ion battery materials. Degussa Management Board Member Dr. Alfred Oberholz notes: "The secret of our success in this respect again is rooted in our innovative capabilities, which in turn are based on a broad chemicals portfolio and a profound knowledge of key technologies."
http://www.degussa.com