Bridgnorth Aluminium (BAL) will deliver battery-grade aluminium to Lotte Aluminium Materials USA.
The five-year agreement was signed at Lotte’s site in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USA.
It marks the culmination of joint technical and commercial development work and qualification activities between both firms to support the evolving requirements of the battery supply chain in North America.
Adrian Musgrave, Head of Sales at BAL, 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.”
He continued: “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 ‘EV’ and ‘ESS’ sectors.”
This deal represents a successful 18 months for the UK’s last remaining aluminium rolling mill, which recently returned to 24/7 production.
Backed by the Viohalco Group, BAL has recovered from a difficult trading environment to deliver an order book that covers customers in printing, packaging, construction, energy and, more recently, electrification.
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.
Musgrave said: “These latest upgrades have complemented our proven technical expertise in developing high quality aluminium materials and this is giving us a strong foundation to target new sectors both at home and overseas.
“We’re leveraging collaborative agreements where we get involved in the early stages of a project. This means we can influence specification and ensure the high-grade material we supply delivers the most effective performance possible.
“This is reflected in the confidence that Lotte has placed in BAL, and we look forward to exploring how the partnership can support the future growth of both organisations.”
