In Kokkola, Umicore produces battery materials pivotal for a sustainable future
Umicore’s Kokkola plant has a long-standing history in battery chemistry, dating back to 1968 when its operations began in the Kokkola Industrial Park with cobalt refining. Battery chemicals have been manufactured in Kokkola since 1994 when spherical nickel hydroxide was produced for NiMH batteries.
“The production of nickel-cobalt-manganese products commenced in 2004, and precursor cathode active material (pCAM) production with new technology began ten years later. In 2019, the Kokkola plant joined the Umicore family”, says Pentti Vihanto, Managing Director of Umicore in Finland.
Umicore is a global group with around 11,000 employees worldwide and a revenue of 3.9 billion euros in 2023. Its operations are structured into four Business Groups: Recycling, Specialty Materials, Catalysis, and Battery Materials, with Kokkola’s operations being part of the latter.
Today, Umicore’s team in Kokkola consists of approximately 400 employees. The site is notable for housing the world’s largest cobalt refinery outside of China and one of the largest pCAM plants in Europe.
“At the Kokkola refinery, cobalt is initially refined and then further processed into battery materials – specifically cathode precursors – which are predominantly used in hybrid and electric vehicles”, Vihanto explains.
Umicore’s expertise in battery chemistry and the production of cathode precursors in its world-class facilities in Kokkola play a pivotal role in the market for eco-friendly vehicles, contributing to a more sustainable future.
“Strongly rooted in the area with a solid foundation, Umicore in Kokkola is a centre of excellence in the field of battery materials.”
