U.S.: Toyo Ink SC Holdings Co., Ltd., the parent company of the Tokyo-based specialty chemicals group Toyo Ink Group, recently announced the establishment of a new manufacturing subsidiary. The new subsidiary, called LioChem e-Materials LLC, will be producing their LiB cathode material - Lioaccum™ conductive Carbon nanotube (CNT) dispersions. This new development is set to take place on January 6th, 2023.

LioChem e-Materials, a subsidiary of Toyo Ink SC Holdings and based in Franklin, Kentucky USA, has created a key material for increasing the capacity of Lithium-ion batteries (LiB) and improving electric vehicle (EV) travel range. The new material, the Lioaccum dispersion, promises to be an essential component for luxury EV capabilities.

The Group has ambitious plans to quadruple their U.S. production capacity by 2025, with the new manufacturing facility set to come online soon.

As the movement to reduce Carbon emissions in transport picks up speed, the US government has set a target for 50% of new passenger cars and light trucks sold in 2030 to be powered by zero-emissions vehicles. In response, major players in the automotive LiB industry are investing heavily into electric vehicles (EVs) and battery plants. By 2030, production capacity of automotive batteries in the US is expected to increase by more than eight times its 2022 level, providing a huge boost to the American economy.

The Toyo Ink Group has made a mark on the world stage in the rapidly growing battery materials sector. In 2021, South Korean battery maker SK On adopted Lioaccum dispersions provided by LioChem Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Toyo Ink in Georgia, USA. Despite investing in increased production at their Georgia facility, supply could not keep up with the fast-growing local demand.

Toyo Ink SC Holdings has partnered with Inabata & Co., Ltd., a materials business partner with the Toyo Ink Group, to meet future customer needs. The collaboration will see Toyo Ink SC Holdings hold a minority interest in the joint venture.