Quallion, a developer and manufacturer of advanced lithium ion battery systems, has opened its factory which produces lithium-ion materials for US Government satellites. This facility represents a US Government investment of over $60 million the domestic manufacturing base for defense technology, funded by the Department of Defense Title III Program.
The move is recognized as a significant milestone in increasing the domestic control over important national security resources, since domestic manufacturing will ensure availability of these critical materials regardless of shifting global alliances. It will also provide 100% traceability and quality control to prevent contamination in the supply chain that would adversely affect the performance of the lithium ion cells.
The materials produced at this plant are used in anode (negative electrode) and cathode (positive electrode) fabrication. The particular chemistry of these materials ensures that satellite batteries can last for more than 10 years with more than 60,000 charge-discharge cycles, and it has never before been manufactured in the United States. Quallion has also built US Government funded facilities at its Sylmar, CA headquarters for the production of cathode materials and manufacturing of lithium ion cells for satellites.
Combined, these production facilities provide a vertically integrated manufacturing process for the domestic production of satellite batteries. This project expands Quallion’s satellite battery capabilities and can support further business and job growth in other market segments. Combined these projects will create over 50 jobs at a wide range of skill levels.
“The Quallion facility epitomizes the best attributes of public/private partnerships that establish domestic production sources that not only sustain our national defense capabilities but also create state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities that are economically and technologically competitive in the world marketplace,” said Mark Buffler, Program Director, Defense Production Act.
“The Title III funded project has been critical in assisting Quallion’s business expansion from manufacturing lithium ion cells exclusively for high-technology medical applications to becoming a premier designer and supplier of lithium ion cells for aerospace and other military applications.,” said Jeff Goldberg, CEO of Quallion LLC. “Quallion is proud to support the men and women of the US military with cutting edge technology to help ensure our country’s security.”
