Group14 accelerates its strategy to build a silicon battery technology infrastructure in Europe to support its customers and partners in the automotive sector.
Group14 Technologies, the world’s leading manufacturer and supplier of advanced silicon battery technology, has acquired Schmid Silicon Technology Holding GmbH (Schmid Silicon), Europe’s most technologically advanced silane producer, in a landmark move to strengthen the global battery supply chain and meet demand for silicon battery technology around the world. As part of the acquisition, Group14 will bring Schmid Silicon’s state-of-the-art silane factory in Spreetal (Schwarze Pumpe), Germany, online to support its expanding European operations. The milestone serves to insulate Group14 customers and partners from potential supply chain disruptions, particularly in the automotive industry,
Group14’s acquisition of Schmid Silicon ensures a secure supply of silane gas, a critical precursor to its award-winning silicon battery technology, SCC55™. The acquisition unites Schmid Silicon’s proven ultra-high-purity, low-carbon silane process technology with Group14’s commercially-proven manufacturing capabilities to deliver high-energy-density silicon battery materials, a higher-performance, more sustainable alternative that pushes the limits of lithium-ion batteries to keep pace with the global energy transition.
As part of the acquisition, Group14 plans to retain and integrate all current Schmid Silicon employees while providing training to transition additional hires from traditional energy sectors to clean energy. Once the factory is online and operational, Group14 expects to increase its workforce by up to 5 times and has started looking for its first European offices in Germany to set up operations.
“We have successfully scaled our proven process innovation at Group14 to a broad customer base, from consumer electronics to automobiles and more. Our acquisition of Schmid Silicon’s energy-efficient manufacturing and process technology was a natural step as we continue to meet the dramatic increase in demand for advanced battery technology while supporting the European Union’s decarbonization strategies,” said Rick Costantino, CTO and co-founder of Group14 Technologies.
Once operational, Group14’s silane factory will be a critical foothold in Europe as the company continues to expand around the world as part of its global roadmap to build modular factories in key markets, positioning the company to meet electrification demand in all corners of the world. Group14 is already shipping SCC55™ to customers representing more than 90 percent of global lithium-ion battery production from its first commercial-scale factory in Washington state, while building its second US factory in Moses Lake and completing commissioning of its joint venture factory with SK in South Korea .
“Group14 has been growing rapidly in critical markets, and we now look forward to being closer to our automotive customers in Europe to support the global energy transition,” said Rick Luebbe , CEO and co-founder of Group14 Technologies. “Germany has long been home to many of the world’s oldest and largest automakers, and we look forward to putting this critical commitment to work to build a resilient silicon battery supply chain capable of meeting global demand right now.”
SOURCE: PRNewswire