Charlotte, N.C., February 7, 2013 – Celgard, LLC, a leading global supplier of microporous separators used in lithium batteries, today announced that its Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, manufacturing facility has received certification to the ISO/TS 16949 Quality Management System.

ISO/TS 16949 is an international standard with a set of strict automotive industry-specific requirements above and beyond other recognized systems such as ISO 9001:2008. All major vehicle OEMs are subscribers to the standard, which was created to ensure the integrity of automotive suppliers. 

Celgard currently manufactures and distributes lithium battery separator materials from its Charlotte facility to battery producers for Electric Drive Vehicle (EDV) programs. The Celgard Charlotte facility received ISO/TS 16949 certification following a nearly year-long process that involved employee training as well as an audit of the procedures the company uses to develop, produce and deliver its products. Celgard Charlotte is the first of Celgard’s four global facilities to be awarded the certification. The company plans to have the remaining sites compliant or certified by the end of 2013. 

“We are very proud of this accomplishment,” stated Celgard President Mitch Pulwer. “ISO/TS 16949 is recognized and accepted throughout the automotive supply chain. Our certification further enhances our global recognition as a leading industry supplier and reflects the emphasis Celgard places on providing high-quality products to customers in the EDV market.” 

In addition to their function in EDVs, Celgard® separators are widely used in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries for personal electronic devices such as notebook computers, mobile telephones, power tools, reserve power and electricity grid storage systems. These separators play a critical role in the performance, life and safety of lithium battery cells by providing a barrier between the positive and negative electrodes – preventing short circuits – while controlling the exchange of lithium ions from one side of the battery to the other.