Mitsubishi Corporation

Press Room

July 29, 2013
Mitsubishi Corporation
Toda Kogyo Corporation

MT Carbon Steps up Marketing of Lithium Ion Battery Raw Materials
Targets Expansion of Clean Energy

MT Carbon Co., Ltd. (MTC) is pleased to announce that its production plant (Production Line 1) in Fukuoka, Japan started operations in April this year. Production Line 1 has now stepped up marketing activities, a major step as MTC moves closer towards the actual implementation of commercial activities at the facility. MTC is a fifty-fifty joint venture between Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) and Toda Kogyo Corporation (Toda), a major manufacturer of carbon materials for cathodes used in the manufacture of lithium ion batteries (LIB).
 
Given its increasing use in automotive applications and in a number of high-tech consumer products such as smart phones, tablet computers, and other mobile devices as well as in electricity storage/stationary equipment, the market for LIB is expected to see continued growth in the coming years. The market for anode materials is expected to expand by an approx. average 10% annually.
 
While Toda possesses independent pulverizing techniques that enable the optimization of the surface shape and internal structure of the powder, MC complements the partnership with strengths such as its global marketing network and its established presence in the carbon raw materials supply chain. Leveraging their collective expertise, MC and Toda have been working in collaboration to develop anode materials for use in the manufacture of LIB since 2011, subsequently establishing MTC in March 2012. MTC itself has achieved a notable measure of success in the development of synthetic graphite products, which led to the launch of Production Line 1, and its full entry into the market. Products developed by MTC also have a reputation for longevity of battery life duration and are recognized as being highly suited for use in low temperature environments.
 
MTC is now focused on ramping up sales with a targeted volume of 2,000 tons of anode materials per year (approximately 5% of current annual global demand) in the early stages of production.
What are carbon anodes?
Along with cathodes, electrolytes and separators, anodes (also referred to as negatively-charged electrodes), are a main component used in the manufacture of lithium ion batteries. Anodes are typically produced from carbon materials including synthetic graphite.
 
Reference Information – Company Outlines
 
1. Mitsubishi Corporation
(1) Headquarters:3-1-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
(2) Established:April 1954
(3) Business Activities:MC has seven business groups which develop operations in a diverse variety of fields including Industrial Finance, Logistics & Development; Energy; Metals; Machinery; Chemicals; Living Essentials; and Global Environment & Infrastructure. In addition to these business groups, MC has a business service group. (4) Representative:Ken Kobayashi, President and CEO
 
2. Toda Kogyo Corporation
(1) Headquarters:1-4 Meiji Shingai, Otake, Hiroshima, Japan
(2) Established:November 1933
(3) Business Activities:Manufacturing and sale of functional pigments, electronic materials and the provision of environmental engineering solutions (research, development and manufacture of lithium ion battery cathode materials, i.e. lithium and metallic compounds)
(4) Representative:Tadashi Kubota, President
 
3. MT Carbon Co., Ltd.
(1) Headquarters:3-1-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
(2) Established:March 2012
(3) Business Activities:Production and development of carbon materials used in the manufacture of lithium ion batteries. (Production Line 1 facilities are set up on premises belonging to MC affiliate SG Chemicals Co., Ltd. in Omuta City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan for the manufacture of carbon materials used in the manufacture of lithium ion batteries. SG Chemicals manufactures calcined petroleum coke with thermal treatment at 1,300 to 1,400℃).
(4) Representatives:Akio Sakamoto, Co-CEO
                            Ryo Kurokawa, Co-CEO

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