Irving’s Alkegen Launches Commercial Production of Groundbreaking Silicon Battery Anode Material

SiFAB is enabling Alkegen "to meet growing demand from customers across a wide range of industries, including electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, and consumer electronics,” CEO John Dandolph says.

Irving-based Alkegen has launched its revolutionary silicon fiber anode material platform, SiFAB, into commercial production.

Its new SiFAB production line is an extension of the company’s established large-scale manufacturing facility in New Carlisle, Indiana.

“Our latest investment in new manufacturing capacity for SiFAB is enabling Alkegen to meet growing demand from customers across a wide range of industries, including electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, and consumer electronics,” Alkegen CEO John Dandolph said in a statement. 

Micron-sized silicon fiber

SiFAB features micron-sized silicon fiber. [Video still: Alkegen]

Alkegen said that SiFAB’s unique properties feature micron-sized silicon fiber with an engineered structure that enables higher energy density and is a drop-in solution for existing electrode formulations and mixing equipment.

According to Dandolph, “It demonstrates and reinforces our continued commitment to being a leading producer of specialty materials that help the world breathe easier, live greener, and go further than ever before.”

“This expansion into commercial production for SiFAB is a testament to Alkegen’s long-standing history of moving quickly to deliver high-quality materials at an industrial scale,” Chief Innovation Officer Chad Cannan said in a statement. “Our team has worked tirelessly to develop this innovative and sustainable specialty material and bring it to market. SiFAB is currently being validated by our customers for use in over 20 different applications, and we are thrilled to add it to our expanding portfolio of battery solutions for our customers.”

Making lithium-based battery packs safer with longer life, faster charging time

Alkegen said it’s building a broad portfolio of battery material technologies to make lithium-based battery packs safer while helping to extend battery life and accelerate charging time.

Alkegen was created through the combination of Unifrax and Lydall Materials. The company creates high-performance specialty materials used in advanced applications including electric vehicles, energy storage, filtration, fire protection, and high-temperature insulation, among many others.

Earlier this year, Alkegen agreed to sell its automotive thermal acoustical business, Thermal Acoustic Solutions, to Regent LP so the company could double down on its strategy to focus on specialty materials.

Alkegen, which moved to Irving from Tonawanda, N.Y. in 2022, has 75 manufacturing facilities operating in 12 countries and employs more than 9,000 people worldwide.

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