GKN Hoeganaes to support First Phosphate in LFP cathode active material development
November 20, 2024
GKN Hoeganaes, a division of GKN Powder Metallurgy, based in Cinnaminson, New Jersey, USA, has announced a strategic collaboration with First Phosphate, a mineral development company located in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Canada. This partnership is intended to help establish a North American supply chain for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, a critical component for the electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage industries.
The partnership follows GKN Hoeganaes’ successful integration of First Phosphate’s magnetite into its proprietary Ancorsteel melting process. This process has led to the development of a high-purity iron powder, which serves as a precursor to lithium iron phosphate cathode active material, necessary for the production of LFP batteries. These batteries are growing in popularity due to their cost-effectiveness, safety and stable raw material availability.
In support of this growing demand, the collaboration marks one of the first substantial efforts to establish a North American production line for LFP battery components, helping reduce dependency on international supply chains.
“Partnering with First Phosphate enables us to contribute our advanced iron powder technology to a rapidly growing industry that is focused on clean and efficient energy storage solutions”, said Matthias Voss, president at GKN Hoeganaes. “This collaboration underscores our commitment to fostering a local supply chain for LFP batteries, addressing both sustainability and technological innovation.”
First Phosphate is set to integrate high-purity Ancorsteel into its upcoming iron phosphate precursor (FP pCAM) and lithium iron phosphate cathode active material (LFP CAM) Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean production facility, with ambitions to reach 400,000 tonnes per annum by 2032. Supporting this vision, GKN Hoeganaes is prepared to scale its Gallatin, Tennessee, operations — already said to be the world’s largest steel atomising plant — and will be providing its research and development facilities in Cinnaminson, New Jersey, for process enhancement and optimisation.
“Working with GKN Hoeganaes to bring Ancorsteel to the market is a vital step in advancing our mission to create a sustainable and locally sourced LFP battery supply chain”, said John Passalacqua, CEO at First Phosphate. “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.”
The newly developed Ancorsteel material is composed of sustainable North American iron scrap and magnetite, aligning with non-FEOC standards for domestic production. The partnership between GKN Hoeganaes and First Phosphate aims to secure the production of LFP batteries with domestic, circular, and environmentally friendly materials.
