Inlyte Energy has signed a collaboration agreement with Ervin Industries to develop new iron powder materials for next-generation battery storage, marking a step forward in efforts to localise critical supply chains in the United States.
Leveraging domestic industrial expertise
The partnership brings together Inlyte Energy, a manufacturer of iron-sodium battery systems, and Ervin Industries, a long-established producer of engineered steel shot, grit and advanced metal powders.
Under the agreement, the two companies will work jointly to engineer new iron powder formulations designed to optimise battery performance. The collaboration will also support Inlyte’s efforts to expand its domestic supplier base, reducing reliance on overseas materials.
Ervin’s expertise in iron processing—developed over more than a century—will be applied to refining material specifications and production processes suitable for large-scale battery deployment.
Antonio Baclig, CEO of Inlyte Energy, said the partnership demonstrates how existing US industrial capabilities can underpin emerging energy technologies.
“Energy storage is becoming critical infrastructure for the grid and there’s an enormous opportunity to build this technology using the industrial capabilities that already exist in the United States,” he said.
“Ervin’s century of experience producing high-quality iron materials gives us a powerful foundation to scale battery manufacturing while strengthening domestic supply chains.”
Reducing dependence on overseas materials
The agreement comes amid growing pressure on the US battery sector to localise supply chains, as demand for energy storage continues to accelerate.
Utilities and communities are increasingly investing in battery systems as alternatives to fossil-fuel backup generation. However, much of the global battery supply chain remains concentrated overseas—particularly in lithium-ion technologies reliant on materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and graphite.
China currently dominates the sector, accounting for more than 75% of global lithium-ion battery production and a significant share of the wider value chain.
Against this backdrop, alternative chemistries based on abundant and domestically available materials, such as iron and sodium, are gaining attention as a route to greater supply chain resilience.
Building on existing manufacturing foundations
The collaboration highlights how next-generation battery technologies can be developed using established industrial infrastructure.
Ervin Industries already produces iron materials from recycled metals for a range of sectors including surface preparation and advanced manufacturing—offering a potentially sustainable and cost-effective feedstock for battery production.
Trent Pearson, President and CEO of Ervin Industries, said the partnership represents an opportunity to apply decades of materials expertise to a fast-growing market.
“Energy storage represents an exciting frontier for iron materials,” he said.
“We’ve spent decades perfecting iron powder processes for demanding industrial applications. Working with Inlyte allows us to apply that knowledge to the fast-growing battery sector and help establish a domestic materials supply chain for next-generation energy technologies.”
Pathway to commercialisation
The agreement also supports Inlyte’s broader push towards US-based manufacturing and commercial deployment.
The company is currently finalising site selection for its first domestic production facility, expected in 2026. In parallel, it is working with HORIEN Salt Battery Solutions to bring sodium-based battery systems to market, with commercial deliveries targeted for 2027.
A model for supply chain localisation
As policymakers and industry leaders seek to reduce reliance on imported battery materials, collaborations such as this illustrate a potential pathway forward—linking emerging clean energy technologies with legacy manufacturing expertise.
By leveraging widely available materials like iron and sodium, and pairing them with established domestic production capabilities, the partnership between Inlyte Energy and Ervin Industries signals a shift towards more resilient, locally anchored battery supply chains in North America.
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