GEA offers a broad technology portfolio for the lithium industry

In view of the growing demand for electric cars and smartphones, for example, demand for lithium is growing steadily worldwide. GEA supports customers in the realization of lithium processing plants with a comprehensive range of technologies.

It includes separation and membrane filtration systems for the separation of impurities, centrifugal separators for solids and liquids as well as techniques for concentration, purification and fluidized bed drying of lithium salt compounds. These compounds are mixed with other substances and further processed. GEA is the world leader in spray drying these state-of-the-art materials into battery powder for the production of lithium batteries and also offers comprehensive service. 

A few weeks ago, a leading processor from the lithium industry therefore also received a high award. GEA received the "Award for Excellent Supplier" from Shenzhen BTR New Energy Materials, China, at the BTR Annual Supplier Commendatory Meeting 2017. BTR is a world leader in anode and cathode material solutions for lithium batteries and the largest supplier of cathode material for lithium batteries worldwide. The award recognizes top performance and top quality as well as innovative and pragmatic solutions that go far beyond the expectations of customers.

GEA has once again been awarded a contract by MSP Engineering Pty Ltd at the end of 2017 for the equipment of a new, ultra-modern plant for the extraction and treatment of lithium. GEA received a similar major order about a year ago. Tianqi Lithium Australia Pty Ltd's new plant is also to be built in Kwinana, 38 km south of Perth, in Western Australia. GEA will again supply and install evaporation, crystallization and drying technology for the plant. The order is scheduled to be completed before the end of 2018. The Tianqi Lithium Group, majority owner of the Talison Greenbushes mine and the world's leading manufacturer of lithium concentrate from spodumen, is further expanding its existing plant for the separation and purification of lithium hydroxide. The new plant is to convert an additional 161,000 tons of spodumene concentrate into 24,000 tons of lithium hydroxide. Lithium hydroxide is used in the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries, a globally growing market. As before, the new GEA order also includes the development, manufacture, testing and commissioning of the most important process plants for the production of pure lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LiOH.H2O) and the by-product dried sodium sulfate.