Altris and Draslovka partner to develop Europe's first sodium-ion battery technology supply chain

Altris, a Swedish sodium-ion battery developer, and Draslovka, a provider of speciality chemicals, have formed a strategic partnership to develop Europe’s first industrial-scale sodium-ion cathode value chain

Under the agreement, the two companies will scale fully connected production of Altris’ patented sodium-ion cathode active material (CAM) at Draslovka’s facility in Kolín, the Czech Republic, providing around 350 tonnes of CAM annually.

The partnership will convert an existing line at Draslovka’s Kolín facility for the production of Altris’ sodium-ion CAM, enabling a faster time-to-market and capital-efficient scale-up. The line will also support production of up to 350 tonnes annually, a European-controlled supply equivalent of 175MWh of sodium-ion cell capacity.

Draslovka will also make a new in-kind strategic investment of 19.3 MEUR in Altris to co-fund the conversion of the production line in Kolín. This will also secure long-term access to Draslova’s licences, process know-how, and a jointly developed plant design for Altris. Production is scheduled for late Q3 or early Q4, 2026.

The partnership comes as Europe increases its efforts to localise battery materials and move beyond lithium‑only supply chains. By producing CAM in Kolín and preparing for larger-scale capacity at the site, Altris and Draslovka will create a Western, sodium-ion-based alternative that reduces reliance on imported inputs, thereby creating a more resilient and balanced battery ecosystem.

Pavel Brůžek, CEO of Draslovka, said, “This exciting partnership with Altris is an important milestone for Draslovka, as we continue strategically investing in concrete opportunities to leverage our world-class expertise in chemistry and sustainable technology. By establishing a fully connected value chain production capacity in Europe, we are in a position to deliver high-quality sodium-ion solutions without relying on external links in the chain.” 

Christer Bergquist, CEO of Altris, said, “This alliance exemplifies how Altris is building a European sodium-ion value chain with leading industrial partners. Europe is no longer waiting for sodium-ion to mature elsewhere – we are industrialising it here, with Western manufacturing and Western supply. It reflects our strategy to focus on what we do best: delivering world-class cathode material that supports a more resilient European battery supply.”