CHARLOTTE, N.C. and
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass., Jan. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Albemarle
Corporation (NYSE: ALB), a global leader in advanced lithium
materials, and 6K, an emerging
leader of microwave-controlled plasma technology, today announced
they have signed a joint development agreement (JDA) to explore the
use of 6K's patented UniMelt® advanced, sustainable materials
production platform to develop novel lithium battery materials
through potentially disruptive manufacturing processes.
"Albemarle is developing
advanced lithium materials to enable breakthrough levels of
lithium-ion battery performance. The UniMelt plasma technology
opens new reaction pathways for lithium material innovation. Our
collaboration with 6K has significant
potential," said Dr. Glen Merfeld,
Chief Technical Officer for Albemarle Lithium.
At the same time, 6K's UniMelt platform promises benefits for
sustainable manufacturing. For instance, if a conventional 16-GWh
battery cathode production plant was converted to 6K's UniMelt
platform, it would reduce CO2 emissions by 70% (equal to
10M trees per year); lower water
consumption by 90% (6.3M barrels per
year) and reduce wastewater production by 100% (7M barrels per year) while requiring a 50%
smaller factory footprint.
"6K technology creates the
opportunity for modular manufacturing allowing for a smaller
footprint, faster construction, and new models for localization.
The collaboration sets a strong foundation not only for advanced
material development but also for future commercialization,"
Merfeld said.
"We are pleased to partner with a world leader in lithium
technology and production," commented Dr. Aaron Bent, 6K's CEO. "The agreement with
Albemarle highlights the
commitment of both organizations to drive battery material
performance enhancements while introducing more sustainable
production methods. We are thrilled to welcome Albemarle to our investor group and our
engineers are eager to work alongside Albemarle's team."
In addition to the JDA, Albemarle has made an undisclosed investment
in 6K through Volta Energy
Technologies. An existing financial investor in 6K, Volta is a venture capital firm launched in
2017 that also connects strategic investors like Albemarle with well-researched investment
opportunities in the energy storage sector. "Albemarle's engagement with 6K is yet another example of Albemarle's commitment to maintain its
technology leadership in lithium," said Dr. Jeff Chamberlain, CEO of Volta Energy
Technologies. "Volta is thrilled that 6K continues to work directly with world leaders
in the development of its ground-breaking manufacturing
technology."
About Albemarle
Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB) is a global specialty chemicals
company with leading positions in lithium, bromine and catalysts.
We think beyond business as usual to power the potential of
companies in many of the world's largest and most critical
industries, such as energy, electronics, and transportation. We
actively pursue a sustainable approach to managing our diverse
global footprint of world-class resources. In conjunction with our
highly experienced and talented global teams, our deep-seated
values, and our collaborative customer relationships, we create
value-added and performance-based solutions that enable a safer and
more sustainable future.
We regularly post information to www.albemarle.com, including
notification of events, news, financial performance, investor
presentations and webcasts, non-GAAP reconciliations, SEC filings
and other information regarding our company, its businesses, and
the markets it serves.
Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the information
presented in this press release, including, without limitation,
information related to the exploration of the use of 6K's patented
UniMelt® advanced, sustainable materials production platform to
develop novel lithium battery materials through potentially
disruptive manufacturing processes; Albemarle's developing advanced lithium
materials in an effort to enable breakthrough levels of lithium-ion
battery performance; the UniMelt plasma technology opening new
reaction pathways for lithium material innovation; Albemarle's collaboration with 6K having significant potential; UniMelt's
platform promising benefits for sustainable manufacturing (and the
related metrics associated therewith); 6K's technology creating the
opportunity for modular manufacturing allowing for a smaller
footprint, faster construction, and new models for localization;
the collaboration setting a strong foundation for advanced material
development and for future commercialization; and all other
information relating to matters that are not historical facts may
constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results
could differ materially from the views expressed herein. Factors
that could cause Albemarle's
actual results to differ materially from the outlook expressed or
implied in any forward-looking statement include, without
limitation: Albemarle and
6K may be unsuccessful in using 6K's
patented UniMelt® advanced, sustainable materials production
platform to develop novel lithium battery materials through
potentially disruptive manufacturing processes; changes in economic
and business conditions; changes in financial and operating
performance of its major customers and industries and markets
served by it; the timing of orders received from customers; the
gain or loss of significant customers; competition from other
manufacturers; changes in the demand for its products or the
end-user markets in which its products are sold; limitations or
prohibitions on the manufacture and sale of its products;
availability of raw materials; increases in the cost of raw
materials and energy, and its ability to pass through such
increases to its customers; changes in its markets in general;
fluctuations in foreign currencies; changes in laws and government
regulation impacting its operations or our products; the occurrence
of regulatory actions, proceedings, claims or litigation; the
occurrence of cyber-security breaches, terrorist attacks,
industrial accidents, natural disasters or climate change; hazards
associated with chemicals manufacturing; the inability to maintain
current levels of product or premises liability insurance or the
denial of such coverage; political unrest affecting the global
economy, including adverse effects from terrorism or hostilities;
political instability affecting its manufacturing operations or
joint ventures; changes in accounting standards; the inability to
achieve results from its global manufacturing cost reduction
initiatives as well as its ongoing continuous improvement and
rationalization programs; changes in the jurisdictional mix of its
earnings and changes in tax laws and rates; changes in monetary
policies, inflation or interest rates that may impact its ability
to raise capital or increase its cost of funds, impact the
performance of its pension fund investments and increase its
pension expense and funding obligations; volatility and
uncertainties in the debt and equity markets; technology or
intellectual property infringement, including cyber-security
breaches, and other innovation risks; decisions it may make in the
future; the ability to successfully execute, operate and integrate
acquisitions and divestitures; uncertainties as to the duration and
impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic; and the other
factors detailed from time to time in the reports Albemarle files with the SEC, including
those described under "Risk Factors" in its Annual Report on Form
10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. These forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date of this press release.
Albemarle assumes no obligation to
provide any revisions to any forward-looking statements should
circumstances change, except as otherwise required by securities
and other applicable laws.
About 6K
6K represents 6000 degrees, setting 6K technology apart from all others. It is the
temperature of operation of UniMelt (5778°K to be exact), the
world's only microwave production-scale plasma, and also is the
temperature of the surface of the sun.
6K uses proprietary, advanced
plasma processing and industrial systems to create materials that
are enabling the next generation of commercial and consumer
products. The company's continuous UniMelt process allows for
complete and unprecedented control of the entire materials
engineering process to produce materials at exact
specifications.
The 6K Additive division is an
ISO9001 facility, reclaims and processes over a million pounds of
Ti-64 per year, and has recently built and commissioned a
state-of-the-art, 48,000-square-foot production facility for
additive manufacturing powders.
To learn more about 6K, please
visit www.6Kinc.com
About Volta Energy Technologies
Volta Energy
Technologies is a venture capital firm spun out of the U.S.
Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory, focused on
identifying and investing in breakthrough energy storage and
battery innovations after performing deep diligence with the
support of unparalleled global research institutions. Seeded by
strategic corporate investors Albemarle, Exelon, Equinor and Hanon Systems,
Volta connects innovators with investors and relevant industries
that are adopting energy storage technology, delivering strategic
returns for all. To learn more, visit plusvolta.com and follow
@VoltaLink on Twitter.
To learn more about Volta, please visit https://volta.vc/
Notes for editors
Albemarle press releases are
available here.
6K press releases are available
here.
Volta press releases are available here.
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SOURCE Albemarle Corporation