Page 168 - CW E-Magazine (6-5-2025)

News from Abroad

BATTERY MATERIALS

Vianode granted Norway govt.’s loan to strengthen

R&D and manufacturing

Vianode, a Norway-based synthetic conventional production. With its first
graphite anode company owned by full-scale plant launch at Herøya, the
Altor Equity Partners and Norsk Hydro, company set a new sustainability stan-
has announced the grant of a NOK 400-mn dard for high-performance anode
($39-mn) loan commitment from graphite. The company aims to nearly
Innovation Norway, the Norwegian halve its product carbon footprint
government’s main instrument for further by 2030.
supporting innovation and development.
Vianode recently entered into a
The funds will be invested in multi-billion-dollar long-term supply
Norway to strengthen Vianode’s R&D agreement with General Motors for EV
capabilities and platform for establishing battery-grade anode graphite through
regional high-performance, low-emission 2033. Anode graphite is the largest
EV and battery value chains. component in a lithium-ion battery in
Innovation Norway has previously terms of weight, up to 70-kg per bat-
The loan will provide part financ- supported Vianode as part of the tery cell, and a key battery material
ing for Vianode’s first full-scale plant Norwegian Government’s focus on regardless of commercially available
‘Via ONE’ at Herøya Industrial Park, developing the battery value chain in technologies. Vianode produces syn-
the Technology Centre in Kristiansand Norway. thetic graphite in high-temperature
and the Oslo headquarters. The loan is production processes that differ from
supported by further investments from Vianode’s anode graphite cuts CO₂ natural graphite typically mined from
Vianode’s owner Altor. emissions by up to 90% compared to carbon-rich rock formations.

Bayer completes $44-mn expansion at US

manufacturing site

German chemicals and pharma
giant, Bayer, has opened a
70,000-square-foot expansion at its
Myerstown, Pennsylvania (US), manu-
facturing facility, marking the comple-
tion of a $44-mn investment announced
in 2022.

The Myerstown site, which has
been in operation for more than 75
years, is now the largest manufactur-
ing location in the company’s global adds eight high-speed packaging In addition to facility upgrades,
consumer health network. The facility lines and introduces automation to Bayer is expanding its workforce deve-
produces well-known over-the-counter both logistics and production areas. lopment programs. The company
brands including Bayer Aspirin, Aleve, Bayer said the upgrades are designed plans to enhance digital training for
Claritin, One A Day, and Midol. to improve operational effi- employees and engage with local edu-
ciency and responsiveness to market cators to support career readiness in
The newly constructed annex demand. manufacturing.

168 Chemical Weekly May 6, 2025

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