GKN Hoeganaes, a division of GKN Powder Metallurgy, is collaborating with First Phosphate toward establishing a North American supply chain for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for EVs.
The partnership follows GKN’s integration of First Phosphate’s magnetite into its proprietary Ancorsteel melting process. The process produces a high-purity iron powder, which serves as a precursor for LFP cathode active material (CAM) used in the production of LFP batteries.
First Phosphate will integrate high-purity Ancorsteel into its upcoming iron phosphate precursor (FP pCAM) and lithium iron phosphate cathode active material (LFP CAM) production facility in Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean, Quebec, which is planned to reach 400,000 tonnes of annual output by 2032. GKN Hoeganaes is prepared to scale its Gallatin, Tennessee operations to supply the facility and will provide its research and development facilities in Cinnaminson, New Jersey for process enhancement and optimization.
“This partnership combines our high-quality phosphate resources with GKN Hoeganaes’ expertise in iron powder production, setting the stage for a robust North American battery ecosystem,” said John Passalacqua, CEO at First Phosphate.
Source: GKN Powder Metallurgy