Battery film supplier to bring 1,200 jobs to Ohio
By Terry Troy
Sidney, located in Shelby County, is the latest benefactor of the overall move to Ohio by international companies involved in advanced manufacturing. As reported in our Manufacturing Minute on April 21, SEMCORP proposed building a manufacturing facility in Ohio. Now, SEMCORP Advanced Materials Group, the largest lithium-ion battery separator film supplier in the world, has committed to breaking ground on a new 850,000 square-foot facility in Sidney this summer, an investment of $915,900,000 that will create 1,199 jobs. Annual payroll has been estimated at $73 million, according to published reports.
SEMCORP’s separator film products are a key component of lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, energy storage and consumer electronic applications. The company specializes in wet-process separator film, offering more than 100 different products—the broadest selection of battery separator film products on the market.
“The Sidney facility is one of the biggest investments in our company’s history because we know the United States is strongly committed to building the supply chains for EVs and energy storage here at home,” said Paul Lee, SEMCORP’s Co-Founder, chairman and CEO. “Our Sidney site will be America’s largest manufacturer of separator film for EV batteries. We look forward to working hand-in-hand with state and local leaders to make the large-scale domestic production of this component a reality.”
Ohio’s vast history in the automotive industry and automotive supply chain as well as its overall proximity to resources, manufacturers, and end markets are two key factors making the state an ideal location for lithium battery manufacturers, according to JobsOhio. The state’s commitment to innovation makes it a natural fit for the emerging electric vehicle supply chain and electric vehicle manufacturing opportunities. Ohio’s commitment to clean manufacturing with renewable energy and solar energy also makes it a prime choice for lithium-ion battery manufacturing.
“SEMCORP chose the location because of the state’s impressive commitment to vocational education, preparedness for a large-scale project like ours, the strong work ethic in the region, and proximity to key customers,” said James Shih, SEMCORP’s Group vice president of Global Projects. “We’re thrilled to call Sidney home, and we’re going to do all that we can to earn the trust of the local community.”
No batteries will be made by SEMCORP, and there is no lithium used in the manufacturing process for separator film. There will be no lithium mining at the site as there are no lithium deposits in or near Ohio.
In addition to EVs, lithium-ion batteries safely power a wide range of consumer products such as cell phones and computers. SEMCORP is committed to operating the facility in compliance with all relevant environmental and safety standards, Shih added. Collaborators on bringing SEMCORP to Sidney include: JobsOhio (www.jobsohio.com), Ohio Department of Development (www.ohio.gov/government/state-agencies/development), Dayton Development Coalition (www.daytonregion.com), Sidney-Shelby Economic Partnership (www.choosesidneyshelby.com), City of Sidney, Shelby County, Dayton-Montgomery County Port Authority.