Showa Denko K.K. (SDK; Tokyo, Japan; www.sdk.co.jp) will expand its production capacity for the SCMG line of carbon-based anode materials used in lithium-ion rechargeable batteries (LIBs).
SCMG material has advantages of low resistance and long life, and demonstrates high performance when used in LIBs for EVs. SCMG is also rated high by car manufacturers as material to be used in LIBs for vehicles with idling-stop function, which is expected to spread further. This time, SDK decided to expand its capacity for producing SCMG in order to respond to a lively demand from customers. Commercial operation of the expanded production facility is scheduled to start at the end of 2016. Through this capacity expansion, the Omachi Plant’s SCMG production capacity will be increased by 50%, to 1,500 metric tons per year (m.t./yr). In addition, SDK started to outsource a part of its SCMG production to a manufacturer in China in this June.