Versa Materials Technology and AUMUND Corporation Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Advance Next-Generation Battery Cathode Manufacturing Equipment
AUSTIN, TX and KENNESAW, GA — May 7, 2026 — Versa Materials Technology, Inc. ("Versa"), a battery cathode materials company headquartered in Austin, Texas, and AUMUND Corporation, the U.S. subsidiary of AUMUND Holding B.V., a global leader in conveying and handling technology, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore a strategic collaboration focused on the development, adaptation, and potential commercialization of conveying and thermal processing equipment for battery cathode material manufacturing.
The partnership brings together Versa's deep expertise in nickel-based battery cathode materials and other advanced cathode chemistries with AUMUND's decades of global experience designing and manufacturing conveying solutions for demanding industrial environments. Together, the companies intend to evaluate calcination concepts that could dramatically improve the quality, cost, and scalability of domestic battery cathode production.
ABOUT THE COLLABORATION
Under the MOU, the parties will jointly explore the adaptation of AUMUND's conveying technologies for use in battery cathode material thermal processing.
The MOU establishes an exclusivity framework under which Versa would serve as AUMUND's exclusive battery cathode materials development partner for the conveyor-based calcination concept, and AUMUND would serve as Versa's exclusive equipment development partner.
QUOTES
"AUMUND has spent decades engineering world-class solutions for the most demanding bulk material handling challenges. Pairing that engineering depth with Versa's cathode materials science creates a compelling opportunity to redesign the thermal processing step from the ground up — and to do it in a way that is built for scale. We're excited to begin this work together."
— Jason Birnbaum, President Sales & Projects, AUMUND Corporation
"One of the most persistent bottlenecks in domesticating battery cathode manufacturing is the thermal processing step — specifically, how you convey and calcine material in a controlled atmosphere at production scale. AUMUND is one of the only companies in the world with the engineering pedigree and manufacturing capability to crack that problem. This MOU marks the beginning of what we believe will be a transformative partnership for U.S. battery materials supply chain independence."
— Carson Rast, Chief Executive Officer, Versa Materials Technology
ABOUT VERSA MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY
Versa Materials Technology, Inc. is a U.S. battery cathode materials company building a domestic supply chain for nickel-based (NMC) and iron-phosphate (LFP/LMFP) cathode active materials — the single largest cost component of a lithium-ion battery, and a market that is today almost entirely offshore. Versa's proprietary process replaces traditional multi-step co-precipitation with single-step spray pyrolysis, eliminating the wet precursor train and process wastewater that make traditional cathode production so capital-intensive. The result is a pathway to roughly 50% lower capital expenditure, 20% lower operating expenditure, zero process wastewater, and a raw-material slate that does not depend on Chinese precursors.
Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Versa operates a prototyping and testing facility and is qualifying product with defense, consumer-electronics, and energy-storage customers as it scales toward its first commercial facility. For more information, visit www.versamaterials.com.
ABOUT AUMUND CORPORATION / AUMUND FÖRDERTECHNIK GMBH
Operating in over 150 countries worldwide, the AUMUND Group is a recognized expert in bulk material handling with more than 27,000 references. Its technically advanced, innovative solutions can be seamlessly integrated into virtually any customer or site-specific setup. AUMUND systems for the safe transport of hot, abrasive materials, optimized cooling processes, advanced storage and blending bed technology, as well as mobile loading and unloading systems, have made the Group a key player in demanding industries. At the same time, AUMUND companies are reliable partners for plant manufacturers and operators – whether for new builds, conversions, or modernization projects. Multiple production sites with engineering and R&D capabilities, strategically located warehouses, in-house spare parts production, international service companies, service centers, and numerous sales locations ensure maximum plant availability for customers worldwide – while supporting resource conservation.
Since 2023 the Aumund Foundation has been the new proprietor of the AUMUND Group with the aim of a long-term and sustainable company development.
Alongside reliable plant availability, customers can also count on the sustainability of solutions from AUMUND. Each Group company and each service provider offers ecological solutions, which are environmentally sound, and follow the principle of the circular economy. For more information, visit www.aumund.com