Impact Minerals’ Alluminous Ships First HiPurA® Samples to U.S. Battery Innovator
Impact Minerals’ 50%-owned Alluminous has hit a key milestone by shipping its first batch of high purity alumina to U.S. battery innovator C4V, advancing pilot plant operations and product qualification.
- First shipment of ~15 kg HiPurA® HPA samples sent to C4V for testing
- Alluminous pilot plant in Perth operating successfully in batch mode
- Plans underway to transition to continuous operation for higher throughput
- Appointment of Peter Barnes as COO to oversee scale-up and optimisation
- Ongoing market engagement in U.S. battery and advanced technology sectors
Operational Milestone Achieved
Impact Minerals Limited’s 50%-owned associate, Alluminous Pty Ltd, has marked a significant step forward in its high purity alumina (HPA) journey by producing and shipping approximately 15 kilograms of its proprietary HiPurA® HPA to U.S. battery materials innovator Charge CCCV LLC (C4V). This initial shipment, dispatched from Alluminous’ pilot plant in Perth, represents the first substantial quantity of HPA produced since Impact’s investment less than a year ago.
The material is now undergoing rigorous testing at C4V’s advanced laboratory and pilot-scale facilities in New York, a critical phase in qualifying HiPurA® for use in lithium-ion battery manufacturing. This collaboration aims to validate the product’s performance and suitability for demanding downstream battery markets.
Pilot Plant Progress and Scale-Up Plans
The Perth pilot plant is currently operating in batch mode, successfully producing HPA and precursor materials that meet internal quality standards. With process management firmly established, Alluminous is prioritising a transition to continuous operation in the coming months. Achieving this will enable sustained sample production and support more robust qualification activities with C4V and potential customers.
Early indications suggest the existing facility may accommodate throughput increases beyond its original design, which could significantly enhance scalability and capital efficiency. Further work is underway to quantify these opportunities and assess the associated capital requirements.
Strengthening Leadership and Market Engagement
To support this growth trajectory, Alluminous has appointed Peter Barnes as Chief Operating Officer. Barnes brings extensive experience in chemical engineering and operational scale-up, tasked with optimising pilot plant performance and steering the transition towards commercialisation.
Meanwhile, Managing Director David Leavy has been actively engaging with investors, strategic advisors, and industry participants across key U.S. hubs including New York, Washington DC, and San Francisco. These efforts, supported by Amvest Capital, aim to deepen understanding of customer needs and supply chain dynamics in battery, AI, defence, semiconductor, and photonics markets.
Leveraging U.S. Battery Innovation Ecosystem
C4V’s location within the Centre of Excellence at Binghamton University places Alluminous at the heart of a globally recognised lithium-ion battery research hub. The university’s ties to Nobel laureate Professor M. Stanley Whittingham and initiatives like New Energy New York and Battery NY provide a rich environment for advancing sustainable battery technologies.
This partnership not only facilitates independent validation of HiPurA® but also aligns Alluminous with a broader coalition dedicated to establishing a domestic battery manufacturing supply chain in the United States.
Looking Ahead
Alluminous plans to continue optimising its pilot plant, progressing towards continuous operation while closely monitoring throughput potential. Feedback from C4V’s testing will guide ongoing product development and qualification efforts. Concurrently, Impact Minerals will advance its Lake Hope project and explore integrating natural feedstock with HiPurA® downstream processing.
Bottom Line?
Alluminous’ milestone shipment and pilot plant advancements set the stage for critical product validation and scale-up in a competitive battery materials market.
Questions in the middle?
- When will Alluminous achieve continuous pilot plant operation and what throughput can be sustained?
- How will C4V’s test results influence final product qualification and customer adoption?
- What capital investment will be required to scale production to commercial levels?
