LANXESS Opens New Battery Laboratory in Krefeld-Uerdingen to Accelerate Development of LFP Materials and Strengthen Western Battery Supply Chains

In its battery laboratory, LANXESS tests the impact of different grades of iron oxide and iron phosphate in LFP materials directly within battery cells, thereby establishing a solid foundation for evaluating their performance.

(IN BRIEF) LANXESS has opened a new battery laboratory at its Krefeld-Uerdingen site to accelerate the development and qualification of iron oxide and iron phosphate materials for lithium iron phosphate batteries while strengthening its role in emerging Western battery supply chains. The facility enables LANXESS to test different material grades directly inside battery cells, giving the company and its customers earlier insight into how they affect performance, processability and application suitability, while its equipment can also support other chemistries such as sodium-ion batteries using sodium iron pyrophosphate. The investment comes as global demand for LFP batteries expands rapidly across electric vehicles, stationary storage, data centres and critical infrastructure, with Roland Berger forecasting that LFP could reach a 50% market share in Europe by 2030. LANXESS is building on more than a century of iron oxide expertise, commercially available battery-grade iron oxides and a newly developed iron phosphate process, while also supplying electrolyte-related chemicals, Lewatit ion-exchange resins, thermal-management and flame-retardant solutions, and recycling technologies for black mass, metal recovery and wastewater treatment across the wider battery value chain.

(PRESS RELEASE) COLOGNE, 4-Sep-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — LANXESS has opened a new battery laboratory at its Krefeld-Uerdingen site to expand research and development of materials for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries and support the emergence of stronger battery value chains in Europe and North America.

The specialty chemicals company will use the facility to test and develop battery materials based on iron oxide and iron phosphate, enabling it to evaluate how different material grades perform directly within battery cells.

By bringing raw-material development and cell testing closer together, LANXESS expects to shorten development cycles and provide customers with faster insight into how specific iron oxide and iron phosphate formulations affect cell performance, processing characteristics and suitability for different battery applications.

New laboratory links materials development directly with battery cell testing

The Krefeld-Uerdingen laboratory allows LANXESS to move beyond evaluating raw materials solely through chemical and physical characteristics.

Instead, different material grades can now be incorporated into battery cells and tested under conditions that provide a more direct indication of their effect on battery performance.

This capability is intended to help both LANXESS and its customers assess new formulations more quickly and make earlier decisions about which materials are best suited to individual applications and manufacturing processes.

Murat Gürsoy, Head of Innovation for Iron Oxides and Iron Phosphate at LANXESS, said battery manufacturers increasingly assess raw materials not only on availability but also on processing reliability and their contribution to cell performance.

He said the new laboratory brings material development and cell testing into closer alignment, allowing the company to determine earlier whether a material performs effectively in a practical battery cell configuration.

Laboratory can also support sodium-ion battery development

Although the facility has been established primarily to support LFP battery development, its technical equipment can also be used for other battery chemistries.

LANXESS said this includes sodium-ion batteries that use sodium iron pyrophosphate as a cathode material.

This broader capability gives the company flexibility to investigate emerging battery technologies as energy-storage markets evolve and manufacturers consider alternative chemistries for different applications.

Global LFP battery market continues rapid expansion

LANXESS is expanding its battery materials activities as demand for LFP technology increases worldwide.

According to figures cited by the company, approximately three-quarters of electric vehicles in China already use LFP batteries.

In Europe, management consultancy Roland Berger forecasts that LFP could account for around 50% of the battery market by 2030, compared with approximately 10% today.

Demand is also expanding beyond electric vehicles.

LFP batteries are increasingly used in stationary energy storage systems supporting renewable power generation, data centres and critical infrastructure.

At the same time, Europe and North America are seeking to build more regional battery value chains to reduce dependence on Asian suppliers of battery materials and components.

LANXESS builds on century of iron oxide expertise

LANXESS describes itself as the leading Western producer of iron oxide and has more than 100 years of production experience in the material.

Building on this expertise, the company has developed specialised battery-grade iron oxides designed for use as raw materials in the synthesis of LFP cathode materials.

These grades are tailored to battery manufacturing requirements and are already commercially available.

LANXESS received the 2024 ICIS Innovation Award in the category “Best Product Innovation from a Large Company” for this development.

New iron phosphate route targets improved environmental performance

In addition to battery-grade iron oxides, LANXESS has developed iron phosphate as another precursor for LFP cathode materials.

The company’s process uses iron and phosphoric acid and is designed to offer environmental advantages compared with conventional production methods that generate large quantities of saline wastewater.

By developing both iron oxide and iron phosphate precursors, LANXESS is seeking to broaden the range of raw-material options it can provide to battery and cathode-material manufacturers.

Battery portfolio extends across materials processing, safety and recycling

LANXESS’s battery activities extend beyond LFP cathode precursors.

The company also supplies chemicals used in the production of electrolyte salts, together with Lewatit ion-exchange resins for processing and purifying battery raw materials.

These resins can be used in the extraction and refining of materials including lithium, nickel and cobalt.

LANXESS also provides technologies for battery safety and thermal management, including synthetic coolants for high-voltage systems, flame-retardant solutions for plastics and electrolytes, and colourants used in safety-critical orange high-voltage components.

Recycling solutions support recovery of battery materials

For end-of-life battery processing, LANXESS supplies process chemicals and ion-exchange resins used in the treatment of black mass, metal recovery and wastewater treatment.

The company said its portfolio is intended to address requirements across much of the battery value chain, from raw-material supply and purification to cathode precursor development, cell performance, safety, thermal management and recycling.

With the new Krefeld-Uerdingen laboratory, LANXESS aims to strengthen these capabilities further by generating direct battery-cell performance data that can support faster material development and customer qualification.

About LANXESS

LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 5.7 billion in 2025. The company currently has about 11,500 employees in 32 countries. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of chemical intermediates, additives and consumer protection products. LANXESS has achieved leading positions in the Dow Jones Best-in-Class Index and the MSCI ESG and ISS ESG ratings, among others, for its commitment to sustainability.

Forward-Looking Statements

This company release contains certain forward-looking statements, including assumptions, opinions, expectations and views of the company or cited from third party sources. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause the actual results, financial position, development or performance of LANXESS AG to differ materially from the estimations expressed or implied herein. LANXESS AG does not guarantee that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors, nor does it accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the opinions expressed in this presentation or the actual occurrence of the forecast developments. No representation or warranty (expressed or implied) is made as to, and no reliance should be placed on, any information, estimates, targets and opinions contained herein, and no liability whatsoever is accepted as to any errors, omissions or misstatements contained herein, and accordingly, no representative of LANXESS AG or any of its affiliated companies or any of such person’s officers, directors or employees accepts any liability whatsoever arising directly or indirectly from the use of this document.

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SOURCE: LANXESS

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