ENTEK Gets Government Funding to Bolster Battery-Separator Production

The battery-separator business of ENTEK has been selected as part of the first set of projects funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to expand domestic manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles and the electrical grid and for materials and components currently imported from other countries.

While known to most processors for its line of twin-screw compounding extruders, ENTEK for 35 years has produced in Lebanon, Ore. battery separator film to support electric, advanced start-stop and standard vehicles, trucks, emergency vehicles, emergency backup power, utility scale energy storage, and industrial batteries.  ENTEK is reportedly the only U.S.-owned and U.S.-based producer of ‘’wet-process’’ separator for lithium batteries and continues to invest in the future of the domestic lithium battery industry. 

The funding, announced by the Department of Energy, is the first phase of more than $7 billion in total provided by the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for the battery supply chain. DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) is responsible for strengthening and securing manufacturing and energy supply chains needed to modernize the nation’s energy infrastructure and support a clean and equitable energy transition. MESC will manage the portfolio of projects with support from DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office.

ENTEK said it received $200 million to build a new plant for lithium battery separators that will provide enough capacity for 1.4 million electric vehicles.

“We are appreciative of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law supporting the domestic growth of ENTEK’s lithium battery separator production. This support for our domestic supply chain and investment in our U.S. manufacturing infrastructure ensures that we are prepared to supply critical U.S. produced components to U.S. lithium battery manufacturers. Together, we are all dedicated to the rapid and sustainable growth of the U.S. electric vehicle market and supporting grid,” notes Kimberly Medford, president ENTEK Manufacturing.