Expanding to meet the clean mobility challenge (2016)

One of Umicore’s Horizon 2020 goals is to be a leader in clean mobility materials. This means keeping up with the rapid adoption of electrified vehicles (EVs). There are 2 million EVs on the road today. This number is expected to increase exponentially in the coming years.

Powering this transportation revolution is the lithium ion rechargeable battery. Umicore offers a wide portfolio of cathode materials for battery makers. To meet surging demand Umicore embarked on a three-year, €160 million expansion programme at its sites in Cheonan (South Korea) and Jiangmen (China). Existing plants will be enlarged and new factories will rise from greenfield sites. The goal is to triple production by the end of 2018.

Coping with this growth requires the newest and best-performing materials combined with a unique ability to scale up production. Attracting talented employees will be another consideration. A major recruitment programme is underway to ensure Umicore is successful in attracting the right people to make the expansion a success.

The clean mobility transformation – occurring at such a great speed and scale – is unprecedented. This can be daunting. For our people it is an exciting opportunity.