Asahi Kasei Opens Wet-Process Separator Coating Line at Celgard's Charlotte Plant
Commercial production is scheduled to begin in the second half of fiscal 2026.
Asahi Kasei has opened a Hipore wet-process lithium-ion battery separator coating line at its Celgard manufacturing facility in Charlotte, North Carolina, establishing domestic coating and supply capability for wet-process separators.
What Happened
The coating line adds wet-process separator production to a plant that has manufactured dry-process separators in the US since 1986. Asahi Kasei made the investment decision in 2023, with commercial production scheduled to begin in the second half of fiscal 2026. Toyota Tsusho has entered a capacity rights agreement tied to the facility. The Charlotte line is paired with a wet-process separator plant under construction in Canada, which the company says is progressing according to plan.
Why It Matters
Separators are porous membranes that keep a lithium-ion cell's anode and cathode apart while allowing ions to pass between them. Wet-process and dry-process separators use different manufacturing routes. The expansion brings localized production capability closer to North American battery makers as demand grows beyond electric vehicles into energy storage systems, reducing reliance on imports for this critical component.
The Bottom Line
The Charlotte facility represents the first step toward a regional supply structure for wet-process separators from Asahi Kasei, positioning the company to respond to growing demand across EVs and energy storage. Celgard's existing workforce and established operations support both dry and wet-process production capabilities in North America.
