Sun Chemical Partners with Mitra Chem on Battery Manufacturing

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains and the state of Michigan’s Competitiveness Fund have selected Mitra Chem, a leading innovator in battery materials, for up to $125 million in awards.

This substantial funding, with additional funding anticipated from the state of Michigan, will support Mitra Chem to establish a cutting-edge battery material manufacturing facility in Muskegon, MI. The site will be the first mass production facility for lithium iron phosphate cathodes in North America, unlocking a domestic supply chain that strengthens U.S. national security and expands the domestic workforce.

Mitra Chem is launching the American Production of Lithium Iron Phosphate and Future Innovation (AmPLIFI) project as a linchpin to building a robust domestic electric vehicle battery supply chain that is cleaner, safer, faster, more affordable, and independent of China.

Mitra Chem will partner with Sun Chemical, which brings 100 years of advanced particle engineering, expertise in manufacturing and production efficiency, existing regulatory permitting, and extensive U.S. manufacturing infrastructure.

“This award selection represents a pivotal moment for the entire U.S. battery industry,” said Mitra Chem CEO Vivas Kumar. “By bringing advanced battery production to American soil we’re securing our energy future and positioning the U.S. at the forefront of the global electric vehicle revolution. The support from the DOE and Michigan, and our collaboration with Sun Chemical, will accelerate Mitra’s mission to revolutionize next generation battery production.”

The Michigan-based facility will focus on developing and manufacturing next-generation materials for electric vehicles and battery storage. Mitra Chem will apply its state-of-the-art acceleration platform that leverages machine learning and automation to unlock high throughput development and materials testing at 10x the speed of current industry practices.

“The partnership between Mitra Chem and Sun Chemical brings together expertise in advanced materials and large-scale chemical manufacturing,” said Russell Schwartz, CTO of Sun Chemical. “By combining Mitra Chem’s cutting-edge battery technology with a century of manufacturing experience, we’re setting a new standard for innovation in cathode active materials for electrical storage. This project will demonstrate the power of American ingenuity and industrial might.”

Beyond its economic impact, the project is expected to yield significant national security and environmental benefits. To date 100% of battery grade iron phosphate (FP) and Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) is produced outside of the United States, with 99% coming from China. By localizing material production, the initiative aims to reduce US dependence on fragile global supply chains, alleviating an over reliance on global competitors.

By 2027, Mitra Chem aims to nearly double the U.S.’s LFP production capacity (15,000 tons of new LFP per year), with plans to double production again (30,000 tons per year) after that. As the facility scales up, it has the potential to supply batteries for millions of electric vehicles annually, marking a significant leap forward in America’s clean energy capabilities.