August 22, 2025: Microporous has marked the formal opening of its new lithium ion battery separator manufacturing line in Tennessee with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The company announced the opening in a Facebook post on August 7.

CEO John Reeves said the line was designed to manufacture battery separators for EVs and backup power, in support of green energy and reducing emissions.

Batteries International reported last January that Microporous had been awarded a $100 million US federal grant for its ultra-thin, coated wet-process polyethylene (PE) lithium battery separator facility.

Reeves said the company had started looking into the expansion nearly three years ago, Reeves said. The Microporous board gave the green light to fund the project around a year ago.

“Our long-term investment for green energy is about $1.3 billion, and this is the first step in this investment.

“This is a full manufacturing line, representing over $20 million in investment, and when it’s fully up and functional, it will represent about 50 new really good jobs for this area.”
Board member Ray Desrocher said further investment is being made in Danville, Virginia, where the company is building its high-volume coated PE lithium battery separator production in Virginia.