GDI, AGC Glass Europe and Carl Schlenk sign MoU starting the first industry alliance in Silicon Battery Anode Manufacturing and Supply


On 29 September 2022, GDI, manufacturer of 100% silicon anodes, AGC Glass Europe (AGC), a world leader in flat glass for the automotive, solar, and high-tech industries, and Carl Schlenk A.G. (Schlenk), a German-based leading international manufacturer of metal powders, pigments, and foils for a wide variety of industries, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to take the lead in the market with an Advanced Silicon Anode Alliance. 

Over the next decade, AGC and Schlenk will work in close collaboration with GDI to provide technology, raw materials, know-how, and services required for the alliance to grow production of GDI’s 100% silicon anode to industrial scale with the goal of achieving 100 MWh of anode production capacity in 2026 and 1 GWh in 2029.

Electrification across multiple sectors is creating increased global demand for Li-ion batteries that have higher energy density,  faster charging, and are safe.  Furthermore, in response to the risk of dependency on battery raw materials sourced in China, European Commission President von der Leyen has said “we are experiencing a global race for the supply and recycling of critical raw materials”.

The three-party alliance, led by GDI, aims to meet these needs by sourcing and manufacturing next-generation 100% silicon anodes for Li-ion batteries in Europe. GDI will accelerate the commercialization and scale up of this next generation anode by leveraging existing AGC and Schlenk manufacturing facilities and capabilities, talented teams, and over 250 years combined business expertise. This demonstrates the synergy between GDI’s cutting edge silicon technology, and mature industrial operations at AGC and Schlenk, to bring the best aspects of startups and large enterprises into one team. 

GDI’s proven, patented technology uses a unique 100% silicon anode design. It allows for greater than 30% greater energy density for advanced Li-ion batteries, and for safe and reliable fast charging from 10-75% in 15 minutes over 500 times to 80% State of Health. However, two additional aspects are needed to have technological and commercial success. 1st the expansion of the silicon during lithiation and need for great adhesion between the silicon and copper requires advanced high strength copper foils. Schlenk is a global leader in  thin high performance rolled metals. 2nd the manufacturing has to be massively scalable, cost efficient, and with high yields and utilization of precursors. AGC recently launched its PlasmaMAX™ plasma coating systems for ultra-high rate deposition. PlasmaMAX™ is a state of the art and industry-first PECVD solution for mass production of large area coating with superior quality, unparalleled uniformity control, and  high precursor utilization rates. These manufacturing lines are capable of coating millions of square meters of material per year at AGC facilities across Europe. As a result AGC is a global leader in coated glass with over 40% of the automotive and architectural glass market. In unison this will allow for massive scale, high performance, and excellent quality and durability.

The first manufacturing site is in Eindhoven, the Netherlands where the pilot production line will have annual capacity of >300kWh by the end of 2022. In the next phase, GDI is aiming with AGC to install a commercial scale line with 100MWh of annual capacity by end 2026 inside an ISO-certified AGC factory, thus making GDI a world leader in production capacity of 100% silicon anodes. To maintain this market leadership the Alliance will scale to GigaWatt hours of roll-to-roll silicon copper anode production by end 2029.

I’m extremely excited about what this alliance will accomplish. By combining GDI’s 100% silicon anode technology with Schlenk's leading high strength foil production, and AGC’s best in class production equipment we can bring a vertically integrated anode to the EU battery market. I am humbled to work with two companies with over 100 years of business excellence each. Startups are seen as risky and have great difficulty figuring out how to scale new products and turn hype into reality. These two historically innovative stalwarts have years of know-how and expertise that we can leverage to position GDI as a global leader in 100% silicon anodes for Li-ion battery production” says Robert Anstey, the CEO and Founder of GDI.

This alliance not only puts AGC at the forefront of growing and innovative industries, but also enables us to meet our sustainability and on-shoring commitments.” says Hugues Wiame, the General Manager of AGC Plasma Technology Solutions.

We are happy to be part of a strategic alliance which brings together the best manufacturers in Europe with innovative technology from the U.S. to advance needs of advanced Li-ion production in EU for the EV and sustainability markets” says Carsten Mohr, Executive Vice President of Schlenk.   

The signing of the MoU took place at The Business Booster event, the annual international networking event run by EIT InnoEnergy, the innovation engine for sustainable energy supported by the European Institute of Innovation & Technology, a body of the European Union (EU), that showcases 150+ sustainable energy technologies under one roof.



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AGC Plasma Technology Solutions

Cameron R. Gottlieb
Business Development Manager,
North America 
Mobile: +1 678 381 3276
cameron.gottlieb@agc.com

About Graphenix Development Inc (GDI)

Graphenix Development Inc (GDI) has its headquarters in New York, and a European R&D Center and pilot production facility located in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. It is currently qualifying its first MWh-scale “roll-to-roll” production facility in Lauenförde, Germany. GDI has spent the last decade researching and developing industry-transforming next generation energy storage materials and technologies. GDI is backed by leading venture capitalists, industry experts, governments, EIT InnoEnergy, and strategic investors. 

AGC Glass Europe, a European leader in flat glass

AGC Glass Europe produces, processes and markets flat glass for the construction industry (external glazing and interior decoration), car manufacture and other industrial sectors (transport, solar power and high-tech). It is the European branch of AGC, a world leader in flat glass. It has over 100 sites throughout Europe and employs around 15,300 employees.

More information on www.agc-glass.eu (corporate site), www.agc-yourglass.com (glass for the construction industry) and www.agc-automotive.com (for the automotive industry).

AGC Plasma Technology Solutions

AGC Glass Europe entered a new field of business activity by offering its vacuum coating technology to a broad range of industries outside the glass world. Visit the website www.agc-plasma.com to learn more about the equipment and services offered by AGC Plasma Technology Solutions, specialised in developing and industrialising innovative vacuum plasma coating technologies.

About Schlenk

Schlenk SE is an internationally successful family enterprise. Founded in 1879, SCHLENK is a leading international manufacturer of metal powders, pigments and foils. It has two divisions: Schlenk Metallic Pigments and Schlenk Metal Foils. Headquartered near Nuremberg. SCHLENK has production sites in Europe and the USA with 900 employees worldwide.