Hitachi Chemical Expands Production Capacity for Carbon Anode Materials

Hitachi Chemical Co Ltd, a leading manufacturer of carbon anode materials for lithium ion batteries, has taken a significant step to meet growing demand from environmentally friendly hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), electric vehicles (EVs), and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). The company has initiated installation of a second production line at its Yamazaki Works manufacturing facility in Katsuta, Hitachinaka-shi, Ibaraki, Japan. This expansion aims to cater to the increasing need for high-performance lithium ion batteries in the automotive sector.

Key Takeaways:

• Hitachi Chemical will invest approximately Yen 2 billion in the new production line to meet demand from new customers.
• The company has already begun installation of the new production line, which is expected to start operating in December 2010.
• The expansion will enable Hitachi Chemical to increase capacity several times during the next few years, with plans to invest approximately Yen 10 billion in this effort.
• The company has developed advanced technologies for particle forms and surface structures, as well as graphite-based and amorphous carbon anode materials that enable high energy density and excellent input characteristics.
• Hitachi Chemical has already enabled the balancing of long life and high safety in batteries by stabilizing anode material surfaces and internal structures against electrolytes and temperature.
• Multiple customers in Japan and abroad are already using Hitachi Chemical's anode materials for lithium-ion batteries in applications such as mobile telephones and notebook computers.
• The company built a mass production line for anode materials for vehicles at the same facility in November 2009, which went into full-fledged operation in April 2010.

Statistics:

• Yen 2 billion: The investment in the new production line.
• Yen 10 billion: The planned investment for increasing capacity over the next few years.
• December 2010: The expected start of operation for the new production line.
• Yen 10 billion: The investment in the initial mass production line for anode materials for vehicles in November 2009.
• April 2010: The start of full-fledged operation for the mass production line.

Sources:

• Hitachi Chemical Co Ltd
• [No additional sources provided in the original text]