Global lithium ion battery separator group Celgard has celebrated the 15th anniversary of its manufacturing plant in North Carolina with the launch of new coating capabilities.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the launch at the Concord facility in the presence of employees, government representatives and local business leaders.

Celgard said the enhanced capabilities support a wide range of coating patterns, thicknesses, coverage, and layers, and are compatible with multiple base film technologies.

Celgard president Dawn Heng told Batteries International that the move enables the company to develop highly tailored separators that meet the evolving needs of EVs, energy storage and next‑generation battery applications.

“As the original inventor of ceramic‑coated separators ― technology that has helped shape the lithium ion battery industry for decades ― Celgard continues to build on a legacy of innovation,” he said.

“Our latest coating capabilities represent a significant advancement, expanding our ability to deliver a broader portfolio of solutions, including functional coatings, multilayer coated separators and other customer‑driven innovations.”

Concord became Celgard’s second US manufacturing location when it opened in 2011 and the plant is reckoned to be a key part of the firm’s North American manufacturing footprint.

Heng was appointed president of Celgard in 2025. He was previously best known for over a decade as the popular senior VP of Daramic.

Celgard is a subsidiary of Asahi Kasei, which sold off its Daramic lead battery separator business to Kingswood Capital Management for an undisclosed sum last December.