Echion and CBMM Inaugurate the World’s Largest Niobium Anode Production Facility Dedicated to Producing XNO

Echion and CBMM, the global leader in the production and commercialization of niobium products, have officially inaugurated the world’s first volume manufacturing facility dedicated to producing Echion’s proprietary ultra-fast charging XNO active anode material technology. The new plant, located in Araxá, Brazil, is the largest niobium-based anode production facility in the world, capable of producing 2,000 tons per year of XNO, equivalent to 1 GWh of lithium-ion (Li-ion) cells.

This facility enables Echion to mass-produce XNO at scale to meet the worldwide demand for the product. Echion’s unique partnership with CBMM ensures a robust and reliable supply chain for XNO.

The opening marked a significant milestone in the strategic partnership between Echion and CBMM and represents a major step forward in the companies’ joint goal of expanding the use of niobium in battery production.

Echion’s niobium-based anode material, XNO, enables Li-ion batteries to fast charge safely, maintain high energy densities even at extreme temperatures, and deliver high power across a cycle life of more than 10,000 cycles. XNO has been specifically engineered to allow electrified heavy-duty industrial, commercial, and mass-transport vehicles to operate with the highest productivity and the lowest total cost of ownership.

CBMM has set a target of achieving 30% of its revenue from non-steel-based products by 2030. Every year, CBMM invests R$ 250 million (US$43 million) in its Technology Program. This collaboration with Echion is fundamental to maximizing the potential of new materials, focusing on the development of niobium-enhanced anodes that increase battery efficiency and durability.