Orion will showcase new U.S. plant and PRINTEX® kappa 100 conductive additive
HOUSTON –At the 2025 Battery Show North America, Orion S. A. (OEC) will highlight its commitment to expanding U.S. production capacity for North American lithium-ion battery manufacturers. Orion (Booth 5211) will showcase its new acetylene black production facility under construction in La Porte, Texas, plus PRINTEX® kappa 100 conductive additive for next-generation battery performance. The Battery Show runs Oct. 6-9 in Detroit.
Orion is advancing construction of the La Porte plant and anticipates start-up in the second quarter of 2026. The new site will produce the acetylene-based PRINTEX® kappa 100 conductive additive, Orion’s broadly used and well-established battery-grade conductive carbon.
“Combined with Orion’s acetylene black plant in Berre l’Étang, France, the new facility will significantly increase our conductive additive production capacity to serve the growing demand of our customers,” said Adrian Steinmetz, PhD, global vice president for batteries. “It will strengthen, localize and stabilize manufacturers’ supply chains and optimize their costs by providing a consistent, domestic source of acetylene conductive black.”
PRINTEX® kappa 100 has exceptional purity and conductivity, which enhances battery performance and enables longer battery life than competitive materials.
“PRINTEX® kappa 100 is engineered for easy use in both anode and cathode, where it forms a robust percolation network that enables efficient electron transport throughout the electrode,” said Claudia Ramirez Castro, PhD, technical marketing manager for batteries. “This dual application enables customers to reduce complexity and simplify their supply chain because they can use one additive that performs on both sides.”
In addition to improving battery performance and cycle life, PRINTEX® kappa 100 conductive additive offers production and economic benefits.
“By optimizing the slurry dispersion processes with advanced conductive additives such as PRINTEX® kappa 100 manufacturers can increase process yield and reduce scrap rates,” said Ana Kiricova, commercial development director for batteries. “These improvements directly strengthen cell manufacturing margins and competitiveness, which is critical to enabling successful domestic production.”
Kiricova noted that while the conductive additive is a small amount in the slurry, it has “a massive impact on the economics.”
“The impact on the cost and scrap rates of the batteries is undervalued,” she added. “Working with a company like Orion to optimize dispersions could help manufacturers become more competitive.”
Orion will complement its technical expertise at the booth with executive management, including Dr. Steinmetz, illustrating the importance of its commitment to the battery market.
For more information about the acetylene black plant or PRINTEX® kappa 100 conductive additive, contact Ana Kiricova at ana.kricova@orioncarbons.com, Kevin Milks, marketing manager for polymers, batteries and special applications at kevin.milks@orioncarbons.com or the Orion sales team here.
About Orion S.A.
Orion S.A. (NYSE: OEC) is a leading global supplier of carbon black, a solid form of carbon produced as powder or pellets. The material is made to customers’ exacting specifications for tires, coatings, ink, batteries, plastics and numerous other specialty, high-performance applications. Carbon black is used to tint, colorize, provide reinforcement, conduct electricity, increase durability and add UV protection. Orion has four innovation centers and produces carbon black at 15 plants worldwide, offering the most diverse variety of production processes in the industry. The company’s corporate lineage goes back more than 160 years to Germany, where it operates the world’s longest-running carbon black plant. Orion is a leading innovator,
applying a deep understanding of customers’ needs to deliver sustainable solutions. For more information, please visit orioncarbons.com.
Orion Contacts:
William Foreman
Orion S.A.
Director of Corporate Communications
william.foreman@orioncarbons.com
+1 281-889-7833
