Cadoux’s premiumHPA Enters Factory-Scale Battery Cells in Recycled Graphite Trial
Key Takeaways
- Cadoux is the sole HPA materials supplier to the Horizon Europe-funded SAFELOOP consortium, which has now run recycled battery materials and premiumHPA® through full factory-scale cell manufacturing.
- 500 kg of battery-grade recycled graphite from consortium member AETC went to Turkish manufacturer Aspilsan Enerji, where 18650 cells completed electrode preparation, coating, cell assembly and formation in the September quarter 2026.
- The cells are intended for battery modules in an electric bus built by Bozankaya, giving the trial a real end-use platform.
- No commercial contract, revenue, offtake, timeline or funding is disclosed, so the value is credibility for premiumHPA® rather than earnings.
- Cadoux's longer-term plan is a 1,000tpa Western Australian facility followed by a 10,000tpa commercial plant, backed by State lead agency and Federal Major Project Status.
SAFELOOP milestone: 500 kg of recycled graphite reaches factory-scale battery production
Cadoux Limited (ASX: CCM) has highlighted a milestone from the Horizon Europe funded SAFELOOP consortium, which integrated recycled battery materials, together with Cadoux’s premiumHPA® high purity alumina, into full factory-scale lithium-ion cell manufacturing. The announcement is dated 14 October 2026.
This is validation work, not a sales contract. No commercial contract, revenue or offtake is disclosed, so the value here is credibility for premiumHPA® in battery markets rather than earnings.
Key figures from the release:
- 500 kg of battery-grade recycled graphite material delivered to Turkish battery manufacturer Aspilsan Enerji by consortium member AETC
- 18650 size lithium-ion cells completed electrode preparation, coating, cell assembly and formation
- Cadoux is the sole HPA materials supplier to the SAFELOOP consortium
The release states the cells completed the full manufacturing process “in the September quarter 2026”.
Roland Hill, Managing Director
“The SAFELOOP milestone recycling and manufacturing achievement represents a meaningful step towards industrial-scale giga-factory circular battery production…”
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How direct recycling and factory-scale cells work
Direct recycling is the technology developed through SAFELOOP to recover and restore high-value graphite from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries for reuse in new battery anodes. In plain terms, the graphite is reclaimed from used batteries and put back into new ones, rather than relying only on newly mined material.
High purity alumina (HPA) is the material Cadoux supplies. The release links premiumHPA® to applications associated with ceramic battery coatings and enhanced battery safety.
The cells passed through four manufacturing stages:
- Electrode preparation
- Coating
- Cell assembly
- Formation
Why does the scale matter? Moving from lab to factory production is the step that shows whether materials can be adopted commercially. The release describes the achievement as an important step towards validating the use of recovered materials in commercial battery production.
The cells are intended for integration into battery modules for an electric bus manufactured by Bozankaya, providing a pathway towards demonstrating the practical application of recycled materials in an end-use mobility platform.
What it means for Cadoux and premiumHPA®
Strategic positioning
Cadoux describes itself as a key materials participant in SAFELOOP, an international collaboration focused on advancing safer, longer-lasting and more sustainable lithium-ion batteries for electric mobility. Participation provides an opportunity to advance the application and commercial positioning of premiumHPA® in next-generation battery technologies.
The release says this aligns with Cadoux’s broader strategy to develop premiumHPA® for high-value advanced technology markets.
Investors should stay measured. The company states it will pursue opportunities to translate material development and qualification activities into “future commercial relationships”, and no agreements are announced.
Cadoux at a glance
The table below sets out the company facts from the release and boilerplate, and why each matters to you.
| Item | Detail | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| SAFELOOP role | Sole HPA materials supplier to the consortium | Gives premiumHPA® a place in a factory-scale battery trial |
| HPA purity | Up to 99.999% (5N) | Purity is central to high specification battery uses |
| Staged plan | 1,000tpa small scale facility in Western Australia, then a 10,000tpa full scale commercial plant | Shows the planned path from small scale to commercial production |
| Government status | Western Australian lead agency status and Federal Major Project Status | Indicates State and Federal government backing, according to the company |
The company’s boilerplate cites Technavio (2024) forecasts of up to 33% year-on-year growth in some HPA categories, with electric vehicle and static energy storage markets a longer-term driver.
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What comes next for Cadoux
Cadoux says it will continue to focus on advancing its high purity alumina business while pursuing opportunities to translate material development and qualification activities into future commercial relationships.
Its Minhub rare earths project in Darwin is a second growth pillar.
The announcement discloses no timelines, funding or revenue guidance, so the milestone is best read as a technical credential for premiumHPA® rather than a financial catalyst.
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