December 19, 2025: Production capacity of a new ‘custom electrolyte’ plant for lithium ion and other battery chemistries in the US state of Wisconsin has been expanded by around 300%, the facility’s owners said on December 16.
The Orbia Advance Corporation and Fluor & Energy Materials business said the second and final phase of the expansion of the site, opened in August 2024, was completed earlier this month.
The facility has benefited from an $8.4 million US defence department contract to strengthen the national lithium ion battery supply chain, revitalize the Wisconsin battery industry and scale up production of electrolyte formulations.
Following the introduction of a second 75-litre mixer and a new 200-litre mixer, the site is now fully operational, the business said.
The plant caters for domestic sourcing of small and medium batch battery electrolytes in the US, tailored to exact specifications for lithium ion as well as emerging chemistries such as lithium sulfur, sodium ion, and beyond.
Orbia said the facility has already produced and supplied battery electrolytes for hundreds of businesses worldwide, including for industrial, medical, energy storage, EVs, the US defence department, lab-scale and aerospace applications.
In 2023, Orbia expanded its custom electrolyte business to a 11,000ft2 production facility following a limited release of product to a select group of users before full public availability (a beta launch).
Orbia had previously acquired Silatronix, a Wisconsin-based electrolyte tech startup.
US-based production reduces reliance on overseas suppliers, eliminating lengthy international freight shipping delays, extending product shelf-life, reducing the risk of excess and obsolete inventories, and enhancing supply chain resilience, Orbia said.
Carl Thoemmes, business development director for Orbia Fluor & Energy Materials, said: “By tripling our production capacity, we’re not only meeting the surging demand for battery electrolytes we are developing a more robust supply chain and creating more opportunities for innovation and collaboration.”
The expansion will empower the battery industry to accelerate journeys from concepts to commercialization, all while cutting the carbon footprint associated with importing electrolytes and driving the next generation of sustainable technologies, Thoemmes said.
