Asahi Kasei Battery Separator Corp. marked a significant step in its commitment to supporting the North American electric-vehicle (EV) market by breaking ground on its new lithium-ion battery separator manufacturing facility in Port Colborne, ON, Canada. The plant is expected to begin commercial production in 2027. It is planned to operate as a joint venture between Asahi Kasei and Honda.

The groundbreaking ceremony, held Nov. 14, welcomed several government officials as well as Asahi Kasei and Honda executives. The facility, expected to create more than 300 full-time jobs in the first phase, will have the capacity to produce approximately 700 million sq meters of coated lithium-ion battery separator materials per year. The coated-battery separator is a vital component that keeps the positive and negative electrodes from touching, preventing short circuits, while allowing lithium ions to pass through, which lets energy be stored. The project will move into visible construction phases in the coming months, including structural development and utility connections to support the building.

“This facility signifies a bold step in advancing innovation in battery technology,” says Koshiro Kudo, president and dir. of Asahi Kasei Corp. “We are establishing a center of excellence here in Port Colborne that will further position Asahi Kasei as a leader in meeting the growing demand for EV-battery separators across North America, helping drive the energy transition forward with cutting-edge technology.”

The Port Colborne plant will effectively be Canada’s first large-scale, wet-process separator facility, strengthening Asahi Kasei’s energy-storage business and contributing to its growth strategy. The battery separators play a critical role in lithium-ion batteries, enabling higher energy density and long-term durability, essential for EVs and other energy-storage applications.