Forge Nano has broken ground on an expansion of its lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility in Morrisville, North Carolina, with plans to increase annual production capacity to as much as 3 GWh.
The project will expand the existing 100,000-sq.-ft. operation to nearly 315,000 sq. ft. Production is expected to begin in 2028, with manufacturing equipment scheduled for delivery over the next two years.
At full production, Forge Nano expects the facility to produce approximately 150 million battery cells annually. Depending on product mix, the company says that capacity could support applications including electric military vehicles and energy storage systems.
Samsung SDI is working with Forge Nano on the expansion and will provide manufacturing and operational expertise as the facility moves toward high-throughput production. Forge Nano also expects to manufacture Samsung SDI battery cells at the North Carolina site once operations begin.
The companies are also evaluating the use of Forge Nano’s Atomic Armor technology in future Samsung SDI battery products. The technology is based on atomic layer deposition and is intended to apply nanoscale coatings to battery materials.
Forge Nano says the facility will manufacture both its own cell products and Samsung SDI cells for the US market. Samsung SDI has also entered into a conditional agreement to purchase cells produced at the site beginning in 2028.
The expansion is being financed in part by up to $100 million in US Department of Energy funding.
Filed Under: Batteries, Technology News