Henkel and CALB establish joint battery innovation center to bring next-generation batteries to market faster

Henkel and CALB have signed a Memorandum of Understanding and opened a joint Battery Innovation Center in Changzhou, China designed to cut the time it takes to qualify new battery materials from concept to production line. Combining Henkel’s advanced materials and application expertise with CALB’s battery development and pilot production capabilities, the partnership aims to bring safer, higher-performing and more sustainable battery technologies to market faster.

Located at CALB’s pilot-scale production facility in Changzhou’s Jintan District, a prominent battery-industry hub, the approximately 400-square-meter center officially opened on September 29, 2026. Its integrated laboratory and applicationengineering capabilities will enable the joint teams to develop and characterize advanced materials, optimize application processes, simulate performance and validate solutions under conditions reflecting battery manufacturing and end-use requirements.

The urgency is set by the market. China sold 16.49 million new energy vehicles in 2025, representing 47.9 percent of all new vehicle sales. Battery makers are now redesigning cell and pack architectures faster than conventional material qualification cycles allow. Under the three-year cooperation framework, Henkel and CALB plan to bring together more than 30 specialists across material development, cell design, application testing and scale-up to advance high-performance, high-safety, low-carbon and sustainable battery technologies. The collaboration will initially focus on adhesive technologies and application solutions for new energy vehicle batteries. The first joint material development project has already achieved core development cycles of approximately three months, demonstrating the potential to accelerate industrial adoption.

“The joint center marks an important step in deepening our technology collaboration with Henkel,” said Liu Jingyu, Chairwoman of CALB. “Henkel’s advanced battery application technologies, digital engineering and simulation expertise complement our strengths in battery development and manufacturing. Together, we can accelerate joint innovation and develop practical solutions that respond to the evolving needs of the new energy vehicle industry.”

Accelerating development from material concept to industrial application

Joint teams will formulate and characterize advanced polymer-based materials, evaluate product performance, optimize dispensing and assembly processes, and leverage digital modeling and simulation. Linking digital development with physical testing and pilot-scale production will allow the teams to identify promising solutions earlier, reduce development iterations and shorten the path to industrial application.

“China’s electric mobility market is advancing rapidly, and customers need locally developed solutions that can keep pace with changing requirements,” said Arthur Fong, Vice President Automotive Components Asia-Pacific at Henkel. “Working alongside CALB will help us respond more effectively to customer needs in China while strengthening our ability to support battery manufacturers across Asia-Pacific.”

Combining expertise to advance battery innovation

Together, these capabilities can support faster localization, more efficient qualification and a smoother transition from concept to production for China’s new energy battery industry. The center can also create opportunities to apply validated know-how and solutions to relevant customer projects across Asia-Pacific, subject to market requirements and project needs.

“This strategic collaboration strengthens the connection between customer-driven innovation in China and Henkel’s global technology network,” said George Kazantzis, Global Head of Automotive Components at Henkel. “Insights generated through the center will strengthen our global battery capabilities and help us anticipate the future needs of the mobility industry.”