Forge Nano, Inc., a materials science company utilizing its Atomic Armor™ Atomic Layer Deposition technology to enhance material performance for superior products, has announced a $10 million investment from GM Ventures, the venture capital arm of General Motors (NYSE: GM). This investment follows a previous $50 million Series C funding round, which included participation from Hanwha (KRX: 000880), Orion Infrastructure Capital (NYSE: ORN), Catalus Capital, and Ascent Funds. To date, Forge Nano has raised over $100 million, with additional backing from Volkswagen (OTC: VWAGY), Mitsui Kinzoku (OTC: MMSMY), LG Technology Ventures (KRX: 003550), Sumitomo Corporation of Americas (OTC: SSUMF), Air Liquide (OTC: AIQUY), and SBI Investment (OTC: SBHGF).
The latest investment from GM Ventures positions Forge Nano to further develop its Atomic Armor platform, which enables the application of thin coatings to enhance the performance and durability of materials. The company aims to expand its battery material coating services, which encompass in-house active material coating, external equipment sales, and the production of Atomic Armor-powered battery cells, while also growing its presence in the semiconductor sector.
In conjunction with the investment, General Motors and Forge Nano have established a strategic partnership to explore the use of Forge Nano’s high-throughput Atomic Armor equipment for coating cathode active materials in GM’s EV battery cells, aiming to boost performance and longevity. This collaboration will enable Forge Nano to leverage its expertise in engineering next-generation battery materials, enhancing GM’s lithium-ion technology roadmap and improving the electric vehicle ownership experience. Forge Nano plans to develop thin-film coatings to optimize GM’s cathode active materials and create prototype lithium-ion battery cells at its headquarters in Colorado to demonstrate the capabilities of Atomic Armor.
“GM Ventures’ primary goal is to introduce disruptive technology into the GM ecosystem to enhance products and processes,” stated Anirvan Coomer, managing director of GM Ventures. “Forge Nano’s Atomic Armor technology holds significant potential for scaling battery materials. Their proven ability to enhance cathode capabilities, which represent the most costly component of battery cells, could deliver substantial benefits to both customers and the business.”
Forge Nano has successfully demonstrated its capacity to improve battery-grade materials, including graphite, silicon, and various nickel-rich cathode formulations, unlocking peak performance for its clients.
“Forge Nano’s mission is to create better materials for a better world. The investment from General Motors will enable us to further improve battery material performance and durability while expanding our reach in other critical areas like semiconductors,” said Paul Lichty, CEO of Forge Nano. “We are excited to collaborate closely with GM to enhance battery cell performance for the next generation of electric vehicles.”
Forge Nano’s battery material enhancement capabilities will also be showcased through Forge Battery, the company’s battery manufacturing division, which is currently negotiating a $100 million award with the U.S. Department of Energy to expand production capacity.
Forge Battery has commenced the production and shipping of 300 Wh/kg Atomic Armor-powered lithium-ion prototype cells, leveraging Forge Nano’s Atomic Armor surface engineering technology. This newly established entity aims to manufacture best-in-class high-energy and high-power lithium-ion battery cells for defense, aerospace, and specialty electric vehicle markets at a newly built Gigafactory in Raleigh, North Carolina. Forge Battery intends to utilize a U.S.-focused battery material supply chain to strengthen the domestic battery ecosystem and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers.
About Forge Nano
Forge Nano is transforming material performance. Through its proprietary Atomic Armor™ technology, the company enables product developers to engineer materials at the atomic level. The advanced surface coatings produced by the Atomic Armor™ process allow partners to achieve peak material performance, optimizing products to be more durable, cost-effective, and safer. Forge Nano’s team of scientists collaborates with a broad range of commercial partners to create tailored solutions that meet diverse needs, from small-scale R&D and laboratory projects to large-scale, high-volume production.
Forge Nano, Inc., a materials science company utilizing its Atomic Armor™ Atomic Layer Deposition technology to enhance material performance for superior products, has announced a $10 million investment from GM Ventures, the venture capital arm of General Motors (NYSE: GM). This investment follows a previous $50 million Series C funding round, which included participation from Hanwha (KRX: 000880), Orion Infrastructure Capital (NYSE: ORN), Catalus Capital, and Ascent Funds. To date, Forge Nano has raised over $100 million, with additional backing from Volkswagen (OTC: VWAGY), Mitsui Kinzoku (OTC: MMSMY), LG Technology Ventures (KRX: 003550), Sumitomo Corporation of Americas (OTC: SSUMF), Air Liquide (OTC: AIQUY), and SBI Investment (OTC: SBHGF).
The latest investment from GM Ventures positions Forge Nano to further develop its Atomic Armor platform, which enables the application of thin coatings to enhance the performance and durability of materials. The company aims to expand its battery material coating services, which encompass in-house active material coating, external equipment sales, and the production of Atomic Armor-powered battery cells, while also growing its presence in the semiconductor sector.
In conjunction with the investment, General Motors and Forge Nano have established a strategic partnership to explore the use of Forge Nano’s high-throughput Atomic Armor equipment for coating cathode active materials in GM’s EV battery cells, aiming to boost performance and longevity. This collaboration will enable Forge Nano to leverage its expertise in engineering next-generation battery materials, enhancing GM’s lithium-ion technology roadmap and improving the electric vehicle ownership experience. Forge Nano plans to develop thin-film coatings to optimize GM’s cathode active materials and create prototype lithium-ion battery cells at its headquarters in Colorado to demonstrate the capabilities of Atomic Armor.
“GM Ventures’ primary goal is to introduce disruptive technology into the GM ecosystem to enhance products and processes,” stated Anirvan Coomer, managing director of GM Ventures. “Forge Nano’s Atomic Armor technology holds significant potential for scaling battery materials. Their proven ability to enhance cathode capabilities, which represent the most costly component of battery cells, could deliver substantial benefits to both customers and the business.”
Forge Nano has successfully demonstrated its capacity to improve battery-grade materials, including graphite, silicon, and various nickel-rich cathode formulations, unlocking peak performance for its clients.
“Forge Nano’s mission is to create better materials for a better world. The investment from General Motors will enable us to further improve battery material performance and durability while expanding our reach in other critical areas like semiconductors,” said Paul Lichty, CEO of Forge Nano. “We are excited to collaborate closely with GM to enhance battery cell performance for the next generation of electric vehicles.”
Forge Nano’s battery material enhancement capabilities will also be showcased through Forge Battery, the company’s battery manufacturing division, which is currently negotiating a $100 million award with the U.S. Department of Energy to expand production capacity.
Forge Battery has commenced the production and shipping of 300 Wh/kg Atomic Armor-powered lithium-ion prototype cells, leveraging Forge Nano’s Atomic Armor surface engineering technology. This newly established entity aims to manufacture best-in-class high-energy and high-power lithium-ion battery cells for defense, aerospace, and specialty electric vehicle markets at a newly built Gigafactory in Raleigh, North Carolina. Forge Battery intends to utilize a U.S.-focused battery material supply chain to strengthen the domestic battery ecosystem and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers.
About Forge Nano
Forge Nano is transforming material performance. Through its proprietary Atomic Armor™ technology, the company enables product developers to engineer materials at the atomic level. The advanced surface coatings produced by the Atomic Armor™ process allow partners to achieve peak material performance, optimizing products to be more durable, cost-effective, and safer. Forge Nano’s team of scientists collaborates with a broad range of commercial partners to create tailored solutions that meet diverse needs, from small-scale R&D and laboratory projects to large-scale, high-volume production.
