Construction has started on a new, battery-grade manufacturing facility in Augusta. Syensqo is building an EV manufacturing facility beside their existing plant, formerly known as Solvay Polymers.
“I would say, EV is one component. But I would say, it’s adding manufacturing, advanced manufacturing, while they supply the EV,” explained Cal Wray, President of the Augusta Economic Development Authority, who attended the event. “They also supply 456 other industries, all of which can use the material. So, I would say it’s more of the growth of our advanced manufacturing hub that we’re starting to develop here, which gives that value-added or higher manufacturing that also pays higher wages.”
According to a company news release, the facility is expected to create 100 full-time local manufacturing jobs that will require skilled labor.
“The facility’s products will support Georgia’s growing electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing ecosystem by providing material for more than five million EV batteries per year at full capacity and creating hundreds of jobs throughout the value chain,” said the release.
“Georgia is developing an e-mobility supply chain that will position the state as a leader in this industry for years to come,” the release quotes Gov. Brian Kemp. “We’re excited for Syensqo to become a valued part of that ecosystem and the Augusta-Richmond County community.”
Wray said this represents a total investment of $850 million. The impact, both employment and financial, will be felt across the seven-county region of Richmond, Columbia, Lincoln, Burke, and McDuffie counties in Georgia, and Aiken and Edgefield counties in South Carolina.
“Every time we locate an industry in Richmond County or Columbia County, locates an industry in Aiken or Edgefield or McCormick it helps all of us because our people, they don’t care where county lines are. They’re driving to and from employment, they’re traveling to and from a career, they’re driving to and from a store or for medical. They live in a specific location, but it doesn’t affect their flow to or from one of our counties.”
Also at the event was Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson.
“Augusta-Richmond County remains invested in bringing new industry to the area as well as expanding existing industries. The City of Augusta and the Augusta Economic Development Authority have worked invest millions of dollars in tax savings on this project,” said Johnson in a news release. “I look forward to continuing to share the great work that we’ve done and that we will continue to do and am excited to officially break ground on this facility.”
The facility will supply polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). That is used as a lithium-ion binder and separator coating in electric vehicle batteries. The Augusta plant will be the largest PVDF producer in North America.
“Syensqo thanks the Georgia Department of Economic Development for their support as we expand our footprint in Augusta,” Mike Finelli, Chief Technology & Innovation Officer and Chief North America Officer at Syensqo was quoted in the news release. “Their commitment enables us to create new jobs and reinforce the local economy and underscores the strategic importance of Augusta as a key player in the EV supply chain along the burgeoning Battery Belt.”
Wray said it also further enhances the Augusta area’s notoriety on the world stage as an attractive place to build a facility.
“If you just think about that Syensqo, or the former Solvay name, it’s a worldwide known name,” he said. “This will be the largest facility of its type in the U.S. You got key suppliers in the EV industry from the major producers of autos and batteries. They’re going to know where Augusta is, because most likely, they’re getting the product from Syensqo.”
Syensqo is based in Belgium. The U.S. headquarters is in Alpharetta. Along with the manufacturing facility in Augusta, the company said it supports 800 jobs in Georgia.
The company is looking for mechanics, technicians, engineers, and other positions created at the plant. Information is available at www.syensqo.com/en/career/job-opportunities
