Unifrax announces SiFAB ™ manufacturing line

NEW CARLISLE, Ind. & BUFFALO, NY – (COMMERCIAL THREAD) – Unifrax, a global manufacturer of high-performance specialty materials based in Buffalo, New York, today announced plans to build its first large-scale manufacturing line of SiFAB (silicon fiber anode material) in its plant in north-central Indiana, which could represent up to 74 new jobs by the end of 2023.

SiFAB is a proprietary silicon anode battery technology that enables significantly higher energy density in lithium-ion battery systems than mainstream technologies. SiFAB is currently undergoing advanced testing and has shown promising performance in several battery systems. The anode technology has been successfully tested with incremental Si loads greater than 40%. In addition to higher energy density, SiFAB is expected to provide faster charges and longer battery life for applications such as electric vehicles, portable electronics, power tools, energy storage in the network and the aerospace industry.

Unifrax is ideally positioned to meet customer demand and develop SiFAB on a large scale, thanks to its existing manufacturing facility and infrastructure in New Carlisle. The Indiana plant will be the first to begin building long-term manufacturing capacity for SiFAB. The new line is expected to create up to 20 new jobs by the end of 2022, with further growth expected by the end of 2023. Unifrax will have more information on open positions later this year on its website .

“SiFAB is the latest development using fiber-based technology to create incremental change value for customers. This process material represents another addition to our strong portfolio of electric vehicle and battery solutions, ”said John Dandolph, President and CEO of Unifrax. “Unifrax is a large, global manufacturing company introducing advanced, game-changing silicon anode materials that can be used in existing manufacturing processes. Our experience and proven ability to develop new and unique technologies will help transform the battery industry with SiFAB. The ability to leverage our existing facility and add new infrastructure to support the fabrication of SiFAB in New Carlisle will significantly speed up the timeline for supplying this critical material to our partners. We value the continued partnership between the State of Indiana and the County of St. Joseph as we leverage the footprint of our existing facilities to create new jobs and opportunities in the region.

“We designed SiFAB from its inception to be manufactured on a large scale so that we can supply all market segments (EVs, consumer electronics, power tools and renewable storage), utilize our existing global manufacturing footprint and provide a product that has a high degree of quality and consistency, ”said Chad Cannan, senior vice president of research and development, Unifrax.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation has offered Unifrax up to $ 1.1 million in conditional tax credits based on the company’s job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning the company is eligible to claim incentives once Hoosiers are hired. The County of St. Joseph also confirmed $ 775,000 in county tax incentives.

“Indiana is a leader in manufacturing, with the highest concentration of manufacturing jobs in the country, supported by 9,000 facilities across the state,” said Jim Staton, Acting Commerce Secretary of the ‘State of Indiana. “As new trends and technologies change the state of today’s manufacturing industry, Indiana is focused on partnering with forward-thinking companies like Unifrax to propel long-term growth in manufacturing and create quality career opportunities for Hoosiers.

St. Joseph County Commissioner Andrew Kostielney also added, “The recent Unifrax announcement is exciting news, not only for St. Joseph County, but for the entire region. Unifrax has long been a significant manufacturing leader in the region, and this expansion indicates their commitment to our country for decades to come. Their new SiFAB range will not only create new jobs, it will also show the importance of green and sustainable technologies.

After more than 75 years of experience in fiber-based technology and manufacturing, Unifrax is taking its first steps in the development of silicon fibers for the lithium-ion battery manufacturing market. With decades of experience in the development and supply of large-scale engineering inorganic materials to high-tech industries around the world, including electric vehicles, aerospace and chemical processing, Unifrax recently launched two new catalyst offerings at fiber base for the automotive and industrial markets – Eco- lytic ™ and FlexCat ™.

To learn more about SiFAB and to request a sample, Unifrax has launched a new website featuring SiFAB with specific technical, manufacturing and application information. The new website can be found at sifab.com.

About Unifrax

Unifrax develops and manufactures specialized high performance materials used in advanced applications including industrial high temperature insulation, electric vehicles, energy storage, filtration and fire protection, among others. Unifrax products are designed with the ultimate goal of saving energy, reducing pollution and improving the safety of people, buildings and equipment by upholding our commitment to our customers to provide greener solutions, plus clean and safer for their application challenges. Unifrax has 37 manufacturing plants operating in 12 countries and employs over 2,700 people worldwide. More information is available at www.unifrax.com. For updates, follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

About Clearlake

Clearlake Capital Group, LP is a leading investment firm founded in 2006 and operating integrated businesses in private equity, credit and other related strategies. With a sector-based approach, the company seeks to partner with experienced management teams in providing patient and long-term capital to dynamic businesses that can benefit from Clearlake’s operational improvement approach, SPO^® The main target sectors of the company are industry, technology and consumption. Clearlake currently has approximately $ 39 billion in assets under management, and its senior investment managers have led or co-directed more than 300 investments. The company has offices in Santa Monica and Dallas. More information is available at www.clearlake.com and on Twitter @ClearlakeCap.

About the IEDC

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) leads the state of Indiana’s economic development efforts, helping businesses launch, grow and gain a foothold in the state. Led by a 15-member Board of Directors chaired by Governor Eric J. Holcomb, the IEDC manages numerous initiatives including performance-based tax credits, workforce training grants , resources for innovation and entrepreneurship, assistance for public infrastructure and efforts to attract and retain talent. For more information on the IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.