Extrusion International 6-2025-USA

29 Extrusion International 4/2025 Commercial Traction with Conductive Additives Vital for Grid Modernization Orion is expanding its business pro- viding conductive additives for high- voltage cable compounds and battery energy storage systems (BESS), the company said today. These technologies are at the core of global efforts to modernize elec- tricity grids, build power-hungry data centers for AI and accelerate the tran- sition to renewable energy. “Orion is well positioned to be a key supplier of high-performance carbon materials for energy infrastructure upgrades,” the company’s CEO, Corn- ing Painter, said. “Most recently, another innovative producer for battery energy storage systems has quali ed our PRINTEX® kappa 100 grade of acetylene black,” Painter added. “We’re already ship- ping product and expect this segment to continue evolving into a meaning- ful business for us in 2026 and be- yond.” Grid-scale BESS – using batteries often the size of shipping containers – are indispensable for balancing re- newable energy supply and demand. Wood Mackenzie, an energy con- sultancy, forecasts that $1.2 trillion in BESS investment will be required globally by 2034 to support the addi- tion of more than 5,900 GW of new wind and solar capacity, helping fuel power demand growth. Also vital to grid expansion and modernization are high- and extra high-voltage underground and sub- marine cables. Orion’s conductive ad- ditives have been quali ed by leading suppliers in the wire and cable value chain. “Investments in underground and subsea transmission systems, along with advanced semiconductive tech- nologies, are enabling utilities to transport more power ef ciently and reliably over long distances,” Painter said. “Growth rates addressing this end market are among our Specialty segment’s highest.” Orion is an attractive supplier to the cable and BESS industries for many reasons, said Dr. Adrian Steinmetz, Orion’s global vice president for bat- teries. “We have several decades of history in both innovation and supplying the battery industry,” Dr. Steinmetz said. “This is important in a dynamic mar- ket where customers need reliable, stable suppliers who can keep pace with new technology and scale reli- ably in mass production.” Orion has a strong and versatile conductives product portfolio, includ- ing carbon black additives made by both furnace- and acetylene-based manufacturing processes. These pro- duction methods yield material that is more competitively priced than carbon nanotubes (CNTs), an alterna- tive technology. Also notable, Orion’s acetylene-based conductive additives are super clean, with virtually no im- purities and a minimal carbon foot- print. Orion’s localization strategy also ap- peals to customers, who are increas- ingly worried about tariffs and geo- political tensions disrupting supply chains. Additionally, with acetylene black being well established in anode and cathode applications as well as in primer coatings for electrodes, part- nering with Orion helps customers to reduce complexity in their supply chain. “Local production for local con- sumption is vital,” Dr. Steinmetz said. “We have a fully loaded plant in France dedicated to conductive additives. We have another relevant facility in Germany and a key factory being built in the U.S. Put simply, we are where our customers are operat- ing and where they are making future investments.” Orion S.A. orioncarbons.com News about relevant products and events Detailed reviews of various smart technologies Case studies from processors English, German, Russian and Chinese Video clips demonstrating smart equipment in live action Latest magazines available for reading and downloading Weekly e-mail newsleers www.extrusion-global.com