Kemira Launches Iron Phosphate Pilot Operations
Kemira has commenced pilot-scale manufacturing of iron phosphate at its chemical production complex in Helsingborg, Sweden. Designed to bridge the operational gap between laboratory-scale R&D and full commercial production, this facility generates larger material quantities for rigorous customer testing, process development, and product qualification. By converting its long-standing expertise in inorganic and iron-based chemistries toward precursor cathode active materials (pCAM), Kemira positions itself as one of Europe's early domestic suppliers dedicated to regional battery manufacturing networks.
Scalable Supply for the European LFP Ecosystem
Iron phosphate serves as a fundamental building block for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry, which is experiencing rapid adoption in electric vehicles (EVs) and stationary energy storage systems. By validating its proprietary manufacturing processes in Sweden, Kemira intends to lower Europe's structural reliance on overseas imports for critical precursor materials. Following product validation and qualification runs with key automotive partners, the company will evaluate capital allocation decisions for commercial-scale production facilities.
LANXESS Opens Battery Materials Laboratory
Concurrently, specialty chemical producer LANXESS has inaugurated a high-tech battery testing laboratory at its manufacturing hub in Krefeld-Uerdingen, Germany. The new facility enables in-house testing and application development of iron oxide and iron phosphate raw materials directly within battery cells. Equipped with advanced analytical equipment, the lab allows researchers to quickly evaluate how specific chemical grades impact electrochemical performance, cell energy density, processability, and long-term stability across diverse battery formats.
Broadening Innovations Beyond LFP Systems
In addition to supporting LFP technology, LANXESS's new laboratory infrastructure is engineered to accommodate alternative battery chemistries, including next-generation sodium-ion battery architectures. Furthermore, LANXESS has refined an eco-friendly synthesis route for iron phosphate utilizing iron and phosphoric acid, which drastically decreases saline wastewater emissions compared to traditional methods. Together, the strategic advancements from Kemira and LANXESS highlight a major step forward in establishing localized, highly sustainable battery chemical value chains across Europe.
