Hitachi to Increase Anode-Quality Graphite Production

---

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--In May, Hitachi Chemical Company Limited and Hitachi Manufacturing Technology, subsidiaries of Hitachi Limited (NYSE:HIT) (Tokyo, Japan), broke ground on Phase I of a four-year expansion of the Hitachinaka anode-quality graphite production facilities. The Hitachinaka facilities, which currently produce 2,100 metric tons per year of anode-quality graphite, are located in the Ibaraki prefecture, 100 kilometers northwest of Tokyo.

The expansion will result in a total production capacity of 10,600 metric tons per year of anode-quality graphite. The five phases of the project each have an estimated investment value of $22 million, and each will increase anode-quality graphite production capacity by 2,100 metric tons per year. Construction of Phase I began in May this year and will be completed in December. Phases II-V will begin in May and finish in December for each year from 2011 through 2014.

The expansion will focus its production on Hitachi's new MAGE anode material to produce graphite anodes for use in lithium-ion batteries. The batteries will in turn be utilized by manufacturers of hybrid electric vehicles, electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. MAGE material optimizes the micro and macro structures of the graphite and therefore increases the capacity of lithium-ion cells. Since Hitachi has begun using MAGE material for anode graphite development, Hitachi has seen an increase in the global market share of anode graphite production and now enjoys a market share of 45%.

View Plant Profile - 3008366
View Project Report - 300014182 300014184 300014186 300014188 300014191

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. IIR's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.