Celgard® products were initially developed in the mid-1960s at the
Celanese Research Labs in Summit, New Jersey, USA. By the mid-1970s,
our membranes enjoyed commercial success as a key component in blood
oxygenation devices commonly used in open heart surgery.
Celgard has been developing and producing separators for primary (single-use) lithium batteries since the early 1980s, and for secondary (rechargeable) lithium batteries since the early 1990s.
Since 2015, Celgard has operated as a subsidiary of the Asahi Kasei Group, a diversified group of companies that operates in the Environmental Solutions, Mobile & Industrial, and Life Innovation business sectors.
1960s
First microporous
film patents granted in the late 1960s, leading to commercial sales
of Celgard® membranes.
1970s
Celgard®
membranes sold as a key component in blood oxygenation devices.
Celgard®
monolayer polypropylene (PP) membranes first introduced to the U.S.
Army for use in lithium-sulfur dioxide (Li-SO2) battery cells.
1980s
Full-scale
development and production of Celgard® separators for primary
(single-use) lithium batteries begins.
Charlotte, North
Carolina, USA facility is built in 1986.
1990s
First commercial
sales into the secondary (rechargeable) lithium-ion battery market.
Celgard®
Trilayer (PP/PE/PP) technology is developed.
First expansion
of the Charlotte, USA facility in 1997.
2000s
Ceramic coated
separator technology is
developed.
Expansion into
Asia with facilities in China in 2005.
Additional expansions of the Charlotte, USA facility in 2004, 2008, 2010 and 2011.
Concord, North Carolina, USA facility built in 2011.
Celgard is acquired by Asahi Kasei Corporation in 2015.
Expansion
of
the Concord, USA facility in 2017.
2020s
Further expansion
into China with establishment of Jiangxi Enpo New Materials Co., Ltd
(ENPO), a joint venture between Celgard
and SEMCORP aimed at supporting the local EDV and ESS markets
