May 17, 2024: Asahi Kasei announced on Wednesday that it will construct its integrated lithium-ion battery separator plant in Port Colborne, in the Niagara region of Ontario, Canada.

The new manufacturing facility will operate as Asahi Kasei Battery Separator Canada and should create highly skilled jobs in manufacturing and construction. Commercial production is planned to start in 2027.

Koshiro Kudo, president & representative director of Asahi Kasei Corporation, who attended the location announcement event, said: “As demand for electric vehicles — and the lithium-ion batteries that power them — continues to rise, we are eager to bring the first Hipore wet-process lithium-ion separator manufacturing facility to Canada.

“Backed by the abundant renewable resources, skilled talent and strong local community support here in Port Colborne, we will be able to better serve our partners in the region as well as the broader North American automotive market from this facility.

“The Hipore wet-process separators to be produced at the Port Colborne facility are critical components of lithium ion batteries for EVs and other energy storage applications.”