AM Batteries, a company developing dry battery electrode (DBE) technology, inaugurated its new Customer Success Center in Billerica, Massachusetts, on Monday. The facility is designed to support the development of next-generation batteries and aims to bolster domestic battery manufacturing amid growing interest in reducing supply chain dependencies.
The opening was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by U.S. Representative Lori Trahan and Massachusetts Interim Secretary of Economic Development Ashley Stolba. The event spotlighted broader efforts to position Massachusetts as a player in clean energy manufacturing.
AM Batteries is working to commercialize a dry coating method for battery electrodes—components essential to lithium-ion and other rechargeable battery types. The company claims its proprietary “Powder to Electrode” process reduces capital and operational costs, energy consumption, and factory footprint compared to the traditional wet coating technique, which involves solvents and lengthy drying stages. According to the company, the dry process also gives manufacturers more flexibility in choosing materials, including moisture-sensitive chemistries like high-nickel cathodes used in electric vehicles and defense systems.
CEO Lie Shi described the new facility as a turning point for the company’s ambitions: “With the opening of this facility, we’re entering a new chapter—one that supports both AMB’s growth and the American battery revival.”
Located in the industrial corridor of Billerica, the center includes equipment for pilot-scale manufacturing and testing of battery materials under dry-room conditions. The site will also serve as a hub for collaboration with commercial partners, universities, and government agencies.
The project received $2.3 million in support from the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2), a state-led program managed by the Center for Advanced Manufacturing at the MassTech Collaborative. Officials described the investment as part of a broader push to convert early-stage R&D into viable, local manufacturing jobs.
Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, which also backs the company through its InnovateMass program, noted that supporting scalable, low-carbon battery technologies aligns with the state’s goals to reduce emissions and accelerate energy storage deployment.
AM Batteries’ technology originated from research at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), which continues to work with the firm on applied research and commercialization strategies. WPI President Grace Wang emphasized the importance of the facility as a real-world example of academic innovation reaching industrial maturity.
While the facility launch attracted political and institutional support, the long-term impact of AM Batteries’ dry coating process will depend on how widely it can be adopted in an industry facing pressure to scale quickly and reduce costs—all while navigating volatile supply chains and global competition.
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