CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY
LG Energy Solution | June 30, 2022
LG Energy Solution is branching out in its efforts to secure supply chain of materials as it ramps up its battery production to satiate the growing market demand.
LGES today announced that it has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Compass Minerals a leading provider of essential minerals, critical to producing battery-grade lithium.
Under the terms of the MoU, Compass Minerals would supply LGES with lithium carbonate and hydroxide. The MoU states that LG Energy Solution would be supplied with as much as 40% of Compass Minerals' planned annual phase-one lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide production for 7 years starting in 2025. LGES and Compass Minerals have committed to continuing good-faith negotiations toward a binding supply agreement.
Compass Minerals is widely known to deliver essential minerals like Sulfate of Potash, Sodium Chloride and Magnesium Chloride and is currently pursuing development options available to service growing U.S. market demand for battery-grade lithium.
The battery manufacturer added that this is the first lithium producer, based in the U.S., to partner up with the company as it looks to solidify its supply chain in the U.S. and cater to the growing market demand for EVs in North America.
"Securing key raw materials has become critically important, in order to maintain our lead position in the global battery market. LGES will make sure to support establishment of steady supply chain in North America, while it continues to seek and acquire environmentally friendly produced battery-grade lithium worldwide."
Dongsoo Kim, Senior Vice President of Procurement Center at LG Energy Solution
LG Energy Solution has been at the forefront in securing key raw materials for EV battery production. Apart from the MoU with Compass Minerals, LGES signed an MoU with SQM of Chile as the two firms agree to commit to investigate and develop joint investment projects of electro-mobility industry value chain.
LGES also executed an offtake agreement with Liontown Resources Limited for the supply of spodumene concentrate from the Kathleen Valley Lithium Project. The deal states that LGES be supplied of up to 150,000 dry metric tonnes per annum of spodumene concentrate, starting 2024.
The battery manufacturer signed a binding lithium hydroxide offtake agreement with Germany's Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd. earlier this year for at least 41,000 tonnes of battery grade lithium chemicals over the 5 years starting 2025.
About LG Energy Solution
LG Energy Solution a split-off from LG Chem, is a leading global manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, mobility, IT, and energy storage systems. With 30 years of experience in revolutionary battery technology and extensive research and development the company is the top battery-related patent holder in the world with over 24,000 patents. Its robust global network, which spans North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, includes battery manufacturing facilities established through joint ventures with major automakers such as General Motors, Stellantis N.V. and Hyundai Motor Group. At the forefront of green business and sustainability, LG Energy Solution aims to achieve carbon neutral operations by 2050, while embodying the value of shared growth and promoting diverse and inclusive corporate culture.
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CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY
AMP Robotics and Waste Connections | June 29, 2022
AMP Robotics Corp. a pioneer in AI, robotics, and infrastructure for the waste and recycling industry, has expanded its partnership with Waste Connections, Inc. its largest customer. Since late 2020, Waste Connections has booked or deployed 50 of AMP’s high-speed robotics systems on plastic, fiber, and residue lines, becoming the largest operator of AI-guided robotics in the industry.
“It’s gratifying to reach this milestone with a leader in resource recovery like Waste Connections. We’ve worked tirelessly to deliver AI and robotics systems that modernize today’s recycling operations by increasing productivity, stabilizing costs, and improving the quality and value of recycled commodities. We remain committed to the continuous enhancement of our AI and automation solutions to stay ahead of industry challenges, exceed customer expectations, and support the industry’s sustainability and climate goals.”
Matanya Horowitz, founder and CEO of AMP Robotics
AMP’s technology identifies and recovers plastics, cardboard, paper, cans, cartons, and many other containers and packaging types reclaimed for raw material processing. For example, AMP recovers a portfolio of #1-#7 plastics in a variety of different form factors, colors, and opacities with high precision and purity. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) together account for a majority of recycled plastic demand, with growing interest in polypropylene (PP)—a highly recyclable polymer with high demand in food-safe applications and flexibility to accommodate packaging in a variety of shapes and sizes. The ability to precisely separate different plastics and other recyclables with AI-driven sorting is helping recyclers meet the soaring need for sufficient quantities of high-quality recycled content from brands and packaging producers.
“We’re excited to expand our relationship with AMP,” said Dan Kurtz, director of recycling for Waste Connections. “We’re impressed by the reliability of the robotics systems and the quality of the end product. We look forward to our continued partnership with AMP as we advance our sustainability initiatives.”
About AMP Robotics® Corp.
AMP Robotics is modernizing the world’s recycling infrastructure by applying AI and automation to increase recycling rates and economically recover recyclables reclaimed as raw materials for the global supply chain. The AMP Cortex™ high-speed robotics system automates the identification and sorting of recyclables from mixed material streams. The AMP Neuron™ AI platform continuously trains itself by recognizing different colors, textures, shapes, sizes, patterns, and even brand labels to identify materials and their recyclability. Neuron then guides robots to pick and place the material to be recycled. Designed to run 24/7, all of this happens at superhuman speed with extremely high accuracy. AMP Clarity™ provides data and material characterization on what recyclables are captured and missed, helping recycling businesses and producers maximize recovery. With deployments across North America, Asia, and Europe, AMP’s technology recovers recyclables from municipal collection, precious commodities from electronic scrap, high-value materials from construction and demolition debris, and valuable feedstocks from organic material.
About Waste Connections
Waste Connections is an integrated solid waste services company that provides non-hazardous waste collection, transfer and disposal services, along with resource recovery primarily through recycling and renewable fuels generation. Waste Connections serves more than eight million residential, commercial, and industrial customers in mostly exclusive and secondary markets across 44 states in the U.S. and six provinces in Canada. Waste Connections also provides non-hazardous oilfield waste treatment, recovery, and disposal services in several basins across the U.S., as well as intermodal services for the movement of cargo and solid waste containers in the Pacific Northwest.
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CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY
Getac | June 28, 2022
Conducting maintenance and inspection tasks in critical areas using an autonomous robot - this task is being carried out by Evonik, a global leader in the specialty chemicals industry, as part of an Innovation Project with three partners at one of its company-owned chemical plants.
Evonik relies on Getac's F110 ATEX-certified tablet to control the robot and teach it automated inspection routes around the facility. The company chose the F110-EX due to its powerful performance and excellent reliability, compared to other rugged computing alternatives. In addition, Getac's fast response and high degree of flexibility while integrating the solution were key factors in creating an optimal working environment for the Proof of Concept. The robot's software was provided by Energy Robotics, while the robot itself was supplied by Boston Dynamics.
The aim of the project is to evaluate the practicality of an automated robotic maintenance and inspection solution in the chemical industry. The robot's primary task is to travel along pre-programmed inspection routes, collecting important operational data. It will also conduct automated safety inspections that cannot be integrated into a remote maintenance concept (or only at great expense). Organisations can then use data collected to improve the intervals between inspections while simultaneously increasing asset reliability.
Getac's tablet plays a pivotal role in the project, serving as the main interface between robot, control software, and human operator. For control and monitoring in the plant, the operator can access the software via the F110-EX, while an additional controller is used for quick interventions during operation.
"The robot receives its orders through the Getac F110-EX, which can also be used to control it during corresponding missions, such as in the tank farm," explains Thorsten Schimpf, process expert at Evonik. "The robot is equipped with sensors, as well as infrared and optical cameras, allowing it to navigate to specific locations within the facility and take photos of displays or record data, which can then be transmitted back for evaluation. For effective operation, we knew we needed a portable rugged device with enough power to display video feeds from the robot in real-time. The F110-EX allows us to do just that."
The requirements for the F110-EX tablet are high. Not only must it be highly robust and ATEX-certified, but the screen must also be easy to read outdoors, under a wide range of environmental conditions including rain, and it must be fully functional in both hot and cold temperatures.
Evonik also required a Windows operating system, as well as the ability to capture and process large amounts of data both quickly and effectively. Connectivity and performance play a key role as well, allowing for fast video transmission and play back. In addition, an LTE connection is required because there is no WLAN in the tank farm. Finally, Bluetooth is needed to connect the controller to the tablet. With the appropriate Getac carrying strap, the F110 can be carried comfortably in front of the body, so the user has both hands free to operate the controller at the same time.
"Evonik not only recognised Getac as a good solution, but Getac responded immediately to our enquiry, was able to help quickly, and offered the right solution for our needs," adds Thorsten Schimpf, "The F110-EX is extremely reliable and fail-safe, it works flawlessly and meets our very high requirements for performance, functionality and connectivity." Schimpf emphasises: "We are very satisfied with the F110-EX".
"The Getac F110-EX is based on state-of-the-art rugged technologies, making it ideally suited to Evonik's ambitious project. We are very pleased to be able to contribute to the project's success and look forward to working closely with Evonik on similar initiatives in the future."
Eric Yeh, Managing Director at Getac Technology GmbH
Evonik Industries AG
Evonik is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. The company is active in more than 100 countries around the world and generated sales of €15 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of €2.38 billion in 2021. Evonik goes far beyond chemistry to create innovative, profitable and sustainable solutions for customers. About 33,000 employees work together for a common purpose.
About Getac
Getac Technology Corporation is a global leader in rugged mobile technology, including laptops, tablets, software and video solutions. Getac's solutions and services are designed to enable extraordinary experiences for frontline workers in challenging environments. Today, Getac serves customers in over 100 countries spanning defence, public safety, ambulance, fire & rescue, utilities, automotive, natural resources, manufacturing, transport, and logistics.
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