Axion Relocates, Receives State Aid

Axion Power International Inc. will create up to 90 jobs at its new operations base for the design, manufacture and sale of products based on its lead-carbon (PbC) technology. The company recently relocated from Toronto, Canada, to the former New Castle Battery site in New Castle, Pennsylvania. The move was aided by $1.2 million in state assistance from Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell during a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour of the company’s new research and development center and manufacturing facility.

The 70,000-square-foot plant can manufacture 3,000 batteries a day. Currently, the carbon electrode is still handmade, limiting production to a few batteries per day. “The Pennsylvania grant allows us to accelerate our process schedules and obtain automated, continuous-run equipment ahead of schedule,” says Thomas Granville, Axion chief executive officer.

Axion’s PbC technology offers performance advantages over conventional lead-acid batteries, which use negative electrodes made of sponge lead pasted on a lead grid current collector. The technology will help expand the hybrid vehicle and alternative energy system markets.