Cenotec Ships First Mass-Produced Cobalt Hydroxide, Expands High-Performance Secondary Battery Additives Business

Cenotec, an advanced ceramic composite materials specialist, announced on the 26th that it has completed shipment of the first mass-produced batch of the additive "cobalt hydroxide," a key material for secondary batteries, and has begun diversifying its portfolio within the secondary battery materials market.

This initial mass-production shipment of cobalt hydroxide is significant in that Cenotec has moved beyond its existing zirconium-based materials-centered business structure and has begun in earnest to expand its business into the secondary battery additive sector. In particular, it is viewed as the starting point of a business portfolio transition, as the company has secured a tangible revenue base in the high-growth battery materials market.

Cobalt hydroxide is a key functional material that enhances the stability of the crystal structure of nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) cathode materials and improves their electrochemical performance. As batteries move toward higher energy density, the ability to achieve material uniformity and high purity becomes an important barrier to entry. Based on its long-accumulated ceramic powder control and particle design technologies, Cenotec stabilized its mass-production process at an early stage and passed its customers' quality standards.

This achievement is also noteworthy in that Cenotec's strategic collaboration with global leading secondary battery materials company Umicore has translated into actual sales. Based on the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed last year, the two companies have pursued wide-ranging cooperation, including building a stable supply chain, advancing quality verification systems, and formulating strategies for entering global markets. By establishing a partnership that encompasses both technology and the overall supply chain, beyond a simple supply contract, Cenotec has secured both raw material procurement and sales channels amid volatility in the global raw materials market. This is seen as a factor that will enhance the visibility of future earnings.

Cenotec plans to strengthen its lineup of functional additives for next-generation batteries, based on cobalt-based materials and five products that have already received approval. Through this, the company aims to establish itself as a key materials partner within the global battery supply chain.

"This first mass-production shipment of cobalt hydroxide for secondary battery cathode materials marks an inflection point in which our business structure is shifting from industrial ceramics to the secondary battery materials sector," said Cenotec CEO Lee Juseong. "By optimizing processes and stabilizing production, we will reliably respond to the mass-production demand of global customers and gradually expand our supply volume."