A signing ceremony of a manufacturing plant for aluminum-plastic composite films and aluminum foils for lithium batteries was held at the administrative center of Rudong county – administered by Nantong city in East China's Jiangsu province – on Jan 21.

Representatives from the Rudong Economic Development Zone and BJAY Technologies Co Ltd signed the agreement.

Aluminum-plastic film is a key material used for soft-pack lithium battery cell packaging. Due to the strict requirements on raw materials and manufacturing techniques, the production of aluminum-plastic films is regarded as being one of the most technically difficult links in the field of lithium battery materials.

Receiving total investment of 2 billion yuan ($314.3 million), the project will be carried out in two phases, each involving 1 billion yuan. Cutting-edge equipment and techniques for aluminum-plastic films manufacturing – as well as scientists and experts with a wealth of experience in research and development – will be introduced from Japan.

After its full completion and the complex ramps up production, annual sales are expected to reach 4 billion yuan.

Chen Lei, head of Rudong county, attended the ceremony and congratulated the parties at the signing. He pointed out that the setting up of the plant would fill a gap in the development of Rudong's lithium battery industry supply chain and inject vigor into the county's construction as a national model city of green energy.