Novolyte Technologies Tripling Capacity of Electrolyte Plant
CLEVELAND, OH – JUNE 22, 2010 – Novolyte Technologies, Inc., a global producer of specialty chemicals including lithium based electrolyte solutions for the lithium, lithium-ion, and ultracapacitor battery markets based in Cleveland, OH, has begun expansion of its North American electrolytes plant in Baton Rouge, LA. The expansion will add reactors and storage tanks that will triple its current capacity.
Novolyte is currently the only fully established and integrated North American company manufacturing electrolytes for lithium and lithium-ion batteries, and has been producing these products for more than 30 years at its Baton Rouge plant. The company received a $20.6 million award in stimulus funds for expansion last year from the Department of Energy under the Recovery Act - Electric Drive Vehicle Battery and Component Manufacturing Initiative.
"We are excited about the opportunities in the lithium-ion battery segment and the increasingly broad scope of use for lithium battery systems, including hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and electric vehicles (EV)," said Ed Frindt, Novolyte CEO. "This first phase of our expansion positions us to better support the growing battery production capabilities in North America and Europe."
"Our current capacity is sufficient to support battery companies through the development phase," noted Dr. Barry Misquitta, Vice President of Energy Storage for Novolyte. "The planned expansion will meet growing demand as our U.S. and European battery customers bring on-line their battery manufacturing facilities. Novolyte is committed to further major capacity expansions that increase the size of our operations to meet the expected future need for electrolytes."
The company established a new R&D facility last fall at its Cleveland headquarters for the further development of electrolytes and is working with the industry leaders in battery manufacturing to meet the future needs of the lithium battery industry. Novolyte built a manufacturing facility in Suzhou, China, in 2004 to serve the Asian battery market.
Novolyte markets its high-purity electrolytes under the Purolyte® brand.
About Novolyte Technologies, Inc.
Novolyte Technologies is a world leading manufacturer and supplier of specialty electrolyte materials, high performance solvents, aryl phosphorus derivatives and technically demanding custom manufactured products. Novolyte, previously Ferro Fine Chemicals Division, is headquartered in Cleveland, OH.