VIGO COUNTY, Indiana (WTWO/WAWV) – Entek’s largest single investment is set to transform the economy of Terre Haute, Vigo County and catapult Indiana’s electric vehicle industry.
ENTEK is a global company headquartered in Lebanon, Oregon. It is the only US-owned and US-based manufacturer of wet-process lithium-ion battery separator materials. The company announced Tuesday plans to open offices in Indiana.
“This is a great day for Terre Haute and the state of Indiana,” said Gov. Eric Holcomb. “ENTEK’s decision to locate a new $1.5 billion battery component manufacturing facility here will have a transformative impact on the West Central Indiana community and Hoosier economy for generations to come. This decision solidifies Indiana’s leadership in the electric vehicle supply chain, and we are excited to be working with ENTEK to accelerate the commercialization of US-built electric vehicles (EVs),” added Holcomb.
Related: ENTEK brings 640 jobs to Vigo County with $1.5 billion investment
The future facility of ENTEK in Vigo County is intended to be the largest site with the most employees. The plant is expected to bring around 640 high-paying jobs to the community.
Larry Keith, CEO of ENTEK International, said ENTEK has three divisions within the company. The largest division is the battery separators division.
“The battery separator goes between the positive and negative plates in a car battery, it’s the insulator between positive and negative,” Keith said. “It’s microporous, so it allows the ions to flow through the separator but prevents the battery from shorting out,” he added.
ENTEK received a $200 million grant from the Department of Energy.
“The Department of Energy is trying to boost production of lithium-ion battery technology in the state,” Keith said. “90% of it is controlled by the Chinese, and I think the government said, ‘No, we have to control that ourselves,'” he added.
Indiana First awarded $15 million in grants
dr Ty Freed, dean of the College of Technology at Vincennes University, says it’s patriotic to bring manufacturing back to the United States.
“There’s tremendous pressure at the state and federal levels to try and bring back more ‘homemade’ production,” Freed said. “I think that naturally makes us more independent. And whenever we are in need, we can rely on ourselves.”
During phase one, ENTEK says the Terre Haute plant will build approximately 1.4 billion square meters of separators.
“Right now in the United States there is an announced demand for about 7 billion square feet of needed separator based on the amount of batteries that are going to be built,” Keith said. “There are many opportunities for volume in the country. A car battery is about 35 feet from this. There is much, much more to a lithium electric car than a battery,” he added.
ENTEK said the decision to select Terre Haute was country and community focused. Keith mentioned the excellent job opportunities, a shovel-ready job site in an industrial area with utilities available, and excellent job training opportunities.
Vincennes University leaders are pleased to support this opportunity by providing graduate training for the industry.
“I don’t think battery technology is just a flash in the pan. I think it’s here to stay,” Freed said. “People who look at these manufacturing facilities will realize that this is going to be a long-term situation and I think we’re going to find long-term careers,” he added.
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