Image: IBU-tecIBU-tec has celebrated the topping-out ceremony for its new spray tower, using this milestone to highlight the construction progress at its site in Bitterfeld-Wolfen. The spray tower is a central component of a new LFP production plant with a capacity of 15,000 tonnes, scheduled to begin operations in 2028. To date, IBU-tec has produced the material on a significantly smaller scale.Construction work on the large-scale plant began in autumn 2025. The production setup is based on comprehensive development and production contracts with Volkswagen’s battery subsidiary, PowerCo. The subsidiary of the German carmaking giant said it has secured the entire production volume for 10 years. The plan is to manufacture LFP cathode material from 2026 to 2028 during a transition period using existing facilities at IBU-tec’s headquarters in Weimar.The Joint Development Agreement (JDA) concluded in autumn 2025 resulted in a subsequent supply contract between IBU-tec and PowerCo. A key priority for IBU-tech is that its proprietary production process operates without Chinese technology and is tailored to the European market. The company explained that the battery material produced in this way stands out, for example, due to a significantly improved CO₂ footprint, as the technology consumes only about half as much energy in comparison to conventional processes used in China.The next steps in establishing the new production facility in Bitterfeld-Wolfen include the construction of further infrastructure for the LFP production plant from mid-2026, such as a logistics hall, and the planned commissioning of the spray tower in the fourth quarter of 2026.Jörg Leinenbach, CEO of IBU-tec, stated in a speech during the topping-out ceremony: “With the new production plant, we are creating the foundation to manufacture LFP cathode material for the first time on an industrial scale in Europe.” He emphasised that his company is making an important contribution to securing the European battery value chain and supplying customers with high-performance and more sustainable materials.Guest of honour Sven Schulze, Minister President of Saxony-Anhalt, commented: “Due to the current geopolitical situation, it is more important than ever to send a clear signal for industrial sovereignty and technological viability in Europe. Battery materials are key to the energy transition and the transformation of the automotive industry. This makes it all the more encouraging to have a strong company like IBU-tec in Saxony-Anhalt that is very well positioned in the future-proof market of battery technology and is establishing an independent European value chain for battery materials here in Bitterfeld.”The IBU-tec Group develops and produces materials for various industries and has around 230 employees. The Bitterfeld-Wolfen site has been producing since 2018, and LFP materials will be increasingly produced there from 2028 onwards.ibu-tec.de, presse.investieren-in-sachsen-anhalt.de (in German)
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