Bridgnorth Aluminium strikes major US deal
South Shropshire manufacturer is working with Lotte to supply battery grade aluminium for EVs and energy storage systems
A Shropshire manufacturer has struck a major export deal with an US industrial firm.
Bridgnorth Aluminium has won a brief to supply Kentucky-based Lotte Aluminium Materials USA with battery grade aluminium.
The south Shropshire company makes flat-rolled aluminium coils, offering R&D and production and employing more than 360 people at its base in Stourbridge Road.
Lotte Aluminium Materials USA is based in Elizabethtown and supplies advanced materials to the battery industry.
The five-year agreement marks the culmination of a technical and commercial journey that has seen both firms work closely together to bring new material to a rapidly emerging market.
Bridgnorth Aluminium and Lotte have established a strong foundation to support the evolving requirements of the battery supply chain in North America.
Bridgnorth Aluminium's head of sales Adrian Musgrave said: "This landmark agreement marks an important milestone in our diversification strategy and will accelerate our growth within the battery materials sector.
"The transition to electrified transportation and energy storage presents one of the most significant industrial opportunities of our generation and our technical expertise, agility and ‘green' production methods are at the forefront of this transition.
"Material manufactured here in Bridgnorth will be used by Lotte Aluminium Materials for the next five years. It will go into production of next generation batteries that will end up in electric vehicles and energy storage systems.
"Battery foil plays a critical role in battery performance, making secure, high-quality supply partnerships like this one increasingly important to manufacturers serving both the electric vehicle and energy storage system sectors."
This latest deal represents a successful 18 months for one of Shropshire's largest manufacturing employers as it returned to 24/7 production.
New jobs have been created to take the workforce to 368 and more than £2 million has been invested in the latest cast house technology and a dedicated slitting line to increase efficiency and capability.
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