Expansions: Entek expands AGM separator production to India and US; Toyo Ink expands inkjet ink capacity in France

Battery separator firm Entek has announced strategic investments to expand the company’s global manufacturing footprint of Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) separator materials into the US and India for lead-acid batteries to serve the expanding demand for energy storage solutions for inverters, industrial applications and electric vehicles (EVs).

Entek says it is actively engaged in site selection in India and the US for the development of fully integrated AGM production plants, including both fibre production and paper lines. It also adds it will be the first producer of glass fibre for AGM in India, ensuring control over quality, cost and security of supply to provide a strong value proposition for customers.

Entek says it is the only separator manufacturer in the world producing all three primary separator technologies (PE, AGM, and lithium separators). It is well positioned to leverage this broad portfolio of products to energy storage applications globally, including both internal combustion and EVs.

Increasing vehicle power demands and the growth of EV production resulting from consumer demand, stricter emissions regulations, comfort and convenience features, and safety requirements is driving an evolution from standard flooded batteries to advanced battery types such as EFB and AGM.

In India, in addition to transportation, there is rapid growth in industrial, telecom, and inverter battery demand requiring AGM. This outsized growth opportunity in advanced batteries for automotive, coupled with a significant AGM market opportunity for industrial and telecom batteries globally, presents a scalable long-term growth opportunity for Entek.

“Our outstanding team in Japan has a long history and wealth of experience producing high-performance AGM products for some of the most demanding customers in the world. That technical expertise, together with our equipment manufacturing capabilities, provides the core competencies to successfully scale local production to serve the growing markets in India and the US,” said Larry Keith, CEO of Entek.

In other news, Toyo Ink Europe Specialty Chemicals, a member of the Japan-based specialty chemicals multinational Toyo Ink Group, announced that it has started operations of an all-new EUR13-million production facility for inkjet inks at its manufacturing complex in Oissel in northern France.

With a focus on operational efficiency, the modern, 1,400-sq-m factory has been fitted with advanced automation equipment and ink manufacturing systems for increased process and quality control. The new fully automated site is expected to reinforce the company’s position in the global digital sector, in particular in the label, interior décor and corrugated markets.

The use of digital technology continues to grow as manufacturers look to appeal to regional interests with product variations. Digital technology gives manufacturers the flexibility of shorter production runs and the ability to customise products. In addition, new breakthroughs in materials and ink processing technology have elevated the image quality on digital presses and expanded application areas, continuously driving innovation to meet the needs of the industry.

“Inkjet is a strategic segment for Toyo Ink, and the investment in a new dedicated facility in Oissel demonstrates our commitment to the digital sector,” commented Vincent Guillaud, marketing director of Toyo Ink Europe Specialty Chemicals.

“The new factory reinforces our capability to support our customers with a stable supply of highly reliable inks as well as pigments and their dispersions created with our unique dispersion technology. Our global research team has made strides in the design of innovative pigments and new dispersion processing technology needed to ensure the production of UV and water-based inkjet inks of the highest quality. Together with our customers, we will continue to innovate and develop products that continue to meet the future needs of the digital print industry.”

Headquartered in Oissel, France, Toyo Ink Europe Specialty Chemicals (TIESC) is specialised in the development and manufacturing of organic and specialty pigments, pigment dispersions and inkjet inks covering a broad range of industrial uses.

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