CBMM unveils world-first plant to produce Echion technology

CBMM,  global leader in the production and commercialisation of Niobium products, has officially inaugurated the world’s first volume manufacturing facility dedicated to producing Echion’s proprietary ultra-fast charging XNO® active anode material technology. 

The plant was formally opened at a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by CBMM, Echion and its customers, government representatives and senior leadership teams from both companies.

The new plant, located in Araxá, Brazil, is capable of producing 2,000 tons per year of XNO® – equivalent to 1 GWh of lithium-ion (Li-ion) cells. The facility enables Echion to mass-produce XNO® at scale to meet worldwide demand for the product. Echion’s unique partnership with CBMM ensures a robust and reliable supply chain for XNO®, the partners say.

Echion says the opening marked a significant milestone in the strategic partnership between the companies and represents a major step forward in their joint goal of expanding the use of Niobium in battery production.

In addition to driving technological innovation, the new plant reflects CBMM's commitment to contributing to a more sustainable future through advanced technologies.

Echion’s Niobium-based anode material, XNO®, enables Li-ion batteries to ultra-fast charge safely, maintain high energy densities even at extreme temperatures and deliver high power across a cycle life of more than 10,000 cycles.

XNO® has been specifically engineered to allow electrified heavy-duty industrial, commercial and mass-transport vehicles to operate with the highest productivity and the lowest total cost of ownership.

Speaking at the event, Echion CEO Jean de La Verpilliere, said: “The opening of this production plant creates robust supply capacity to meet the significant commercial demand we have for XNO®.

“XNO® is already having a positive impact on our cell manufacturing customers, downstream OEMs, and end-users. Echion is beginning to trade at scale and that is a major milestone for company growth. I would like to thank CBMM for their ongoing partnership with Echion to bring XNO® to mass production.”

CBMM has set a target of achieving 30 per cent of its revenue from non-steel-based products by 2030. Every year, CBMM invests millions in its technology programme. 

The collaboration with Echion is fundamental to maximising the potential of new materials, focusing on the development of Niobium-enhanced anodes that increase battery efficiency and durability. 

As part of its strategic growth plan, CBMM aims to reach a capacity of 20,000 tons of niobium oxide by 2030 for batteries.

Ricardo Lima, CEO of CBMM, said: “We anticipate significant growth in the battery sector in the coming years. Therefore, we are proud to celebrate the fruits of this partnership, which reinforces our Sustainability Plan and aligns with global trends toward decarbonisation and the promotion of electrification. 

“This inauguration is a milestone in our history, enabling CBMM to keep transforming science into technology, and technology into business.”

Echion says the differentiated performance enabled by XNO® helps cell manufacturers gain a technical and commercial advantage in high-value, fast-growing markets where end-users require the highest safety, lowest total cost of ownership and highest productivity.

This includes industrial and commercial e-mobility markets such as rail, marine, mining and other off-highway vehicles, opportunity-charging e-buses and material handling equipment.

CBMM has more than 500 customers in over 50 countries. Headquartered in Brazil, with regional offices in China, the Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland and the United States, the company supplies products and technology to the infrastructure, mobility, aerospace, healthcare, and energy sectors.

Echion was Tech Scale-Up winner in the recent Business Weekly Awards.