6K Plans Major Expansion in Battery Materials with $25M Investment in Next 2 Yrs

6K, a producer of sustainable advanced materials for energy storage, is planning for a major advancement in the sustainable battery materials division with an investment of about USD 25 million.

In line with this, the company has created a Center of Excellence for its 6K Energy division focused on the development of sustainable battery materials for electric vehicles (EVs), grid storage and consumer goods.

Over the next 2 years, the company will triple the size of its facility in North Andover, MA, with as many as 10 UniMelt® systems dedicated to the full-scale development and pilot production of battery materials.

Thus, 6K Energy will expand the size of its product development team, enhance world-class material testing capabilities and help the US to lower supply chain risks with clean energy production of critical battery materials.

On the development, former Congressman Joe Kennedy III and 6K Board member said, “the new administration’s executive order clearly outlines a commitment for the United States to lead clean energy technology especially in the area of batteries for electric vehicles. The new order also calls for a review of supply chains and ensuring the domestic supply of four key areas, one of them being battery production. The new Center of Excellence will not only allow 6K to address the administration’s concerns, but it enables 6K’s key partners and players in the battery production space to take advantage of a scalable, green process based in the US to fulfill the US supply chain requirements.”

The new facility in 33,000 sq/ft area will accommodate 10 UniMelt systems that can produce as much as 100 tons of material from each system annually.

This will support full scale development of materials such as high energy density and single crystal cathode, solid-state electrolyte materials, Silicon Anode for fast-charging and many more.

Commenting on the expansion plans, Dr Aaron Bent, CEO of 6K, said, “production of advanced materials for batteries is virtually non-existent in the United States. The investment we are making in infrastructure and team will accelerate our time-to-market to deliver lower cost, next generation battery materials produced on US soil. The UniMelt platform’s sustainability benefits, and the scale of the new Center of Excellence, means that 6K Energy can deliver the advanced materials the market requires for next generation batteries and the administration’s mandate for improvements in the supply chain for battery materials.”