At The Battery Show North America, Orion S. A. (OEC) will highlight its commitment to expanding US production capacity for North American lithium-ion battery manufacturers (Booth 5211). The Battery Show runs from October 6th to 9th in Detroit.
The company will showcase its new acetylene black production facility, currently under construction in La Porte, Texas, along with PRINTE kappa 100, a conductive additive designed to enhance the performance of next-generation batteries.
Orion expects to start up the La Porte site in the second quarter of 2026, producing acetylene-based PRINTEX kappa 100, its well-established battery-grade conductive carbon.
“Together with our acetylene black plant in Berre l’Étang, France, the new facility will significantly expand capacity to meet growing demand,” said Adrian Steinmetz, PhD, global vice president for batteries. “It strengthens and localizes supply chains, while reducing costs with a consistent domestic source of conductive black.”
PRINTEX kappa 100 delivers exceptional purity and conductivity, enabling longer battery life and higher performance than competing materials.
“It’s engineered for easy use in both anode and cathode, where it forms a robust percolation network that supports efficient electron transport,” explained Claudia Ramirez Castro, PhD, technical marketing manager for batteries. “This dual application reduces complexity and simplifies supply chains by allowing one additive to work across both electrodes.”
In addition to performance gains, PRINTEX kappa 100 provides economic advantages.
“Optimizing slurry dispersion with advanced conductive additives improves process yield and reduces scrap rates,” said Ana Kiricova, commercial development director for batteries. “Even though the additive is a small portion of the slurry, it has a major impact on costs and competitiveness.”
Orion will complement its technical expertise with executive leadership at the booth, highlighting its commitment to advancing domestic EV battery manufacturing.
Filed Under: Batteries, Technology News