EcoPro marked its 28th anniversary by highlighting the growth potential of the nickel-cobalt-aluminum battery market and expressing its commitment to securing future competitiveness.
On October 22, EcoPro held its 28th anniversary ceremony at its Pohang campus. During the event, employees reflected on the history of challenges and innovations since the company's founding and reaffirmed their determination to lead the global battery materials market.
In his commemorative speech, EcoPro founder Lee Dong-chae stated, "Walking a path that no one else has taken has been the history of EcoPro. While others looked at the market, we looked to the future, and the market ultimately moved in the direction we prepared."
He particularly emphasized the future growth potential of nickel-cobalt-aluminum batteries despite a slowdown in the electric vehicle market. Lee predicted, "The demand for batteries with higher energy density will continue to rise, not only for electric vehicles but also for robotics, artificial intelligence, and next-generation mobility industries. The opportunities for nickel-cobalt-aluminum batteries will undoubtedly open up significantly."
Lee further remarked, "A company that prepares for the future during a recession is the true stronghold. Let us further develop our unique technology, enhance our quality competitiveness, and reduce costs to proactively prepare for the future that customers desire."
EcoPro started in 1998 in Ochang, North Chungcheong Province, with one employee and a capital of 100 million won. Initially, the company focused on localizing chemical filters for semiconductor processes and developing greenhouse gas reduction catalyst technologies, before entering the secondary battery cathode material business in the early 2000s.
In 2013, EcoPro supplied nickel-cobalt-aluminum cathode materials to global electronics giant Sony, paving the way for its entry into overseas markets. Since 2017, the company has invested approximately 3.3 trillion won to establish a closed-loop ecosystem encompassing precursor, cathode materials, and recycling businesses in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province.
EcoPro has also been a leader in regional balanced development. The company has expanded its operations centered in Ochang and Pohang, with nine out of ten employees coming from non-capital regions.
Lee emphasized, "Technology is created by people, innovation is made by people, and the future is also made by people. The most valuable asset of EcoPro is not our facilities, buildings, or capital, but our people."
Additionally, the ceremony included an awards presentation for employees who exemplified EcoPro's core values of challenge, innovation, and trust.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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