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11 hours ago

Westborough EV battery recycler signs European deal with Chinese firm

Two men sit at a table in front of flags of China, the EU, and the U.S. Photo | Courtesy of Ascend Elements GEM Chairman Xu Kaihua (on left) and Ascend Elements CEO Linh Austin signed an MOU to explore opportunities in battery recycling and engineered materials production in Europe.

Ascend Elements, a Westborough-based firm which produces electric vehicle components from recycled batteries, has signed a memorandum of understanding with a firm based in China to explore potential collaboration in Europe.

Ascend signed the MOU with GEM Co., a Shenzhen-based firm among the 500 largest employers in China, according to its website. The firm was founded in 2021 and recycles waste products, including batteries and other electronic waste, into components for new products. 

The two firms signed the MOU in an attempt to help advance Europe’s local battery material ecosystem, utilizing GEM’s experience in the field with Ascend’s established European presence, according to a Wednesday press release announcing the agreement. The goal of the agreement is to create a localized and circular supply chain meeting market demands and staying compliant with European Union regulations. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Ascend has established a growing presence in Poland and has plans for a facility in Germany.

A man in a blue suit with a white button down and light blue tie.
Photo | Courtesy of Ascend Elements
Linh Austin, president and CEO of Ascend Elements

 "This collaboration allows us to de-risk our very ambitious European strategy due to GEM's mass production expertise and accelerate our ability to offer the missing capabilities in Europe," Linh Austin, president and CEO of Ascend Elements, said in the press release. "We are delivering a fully integrated, localized battery industrial ecosystem that addresses both sustainability and regulatory requirements, while supporting the energy transition and driving economic value."

Austin, a former executive at energy firms BP and McDermott International, was named CEO and president of Ascend in March

Eric Casey is the managing editor at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the manufacturing and real estate industries.

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