Group14 Technologies, a manufacturer and supplier of advanced silicon battery technology, has acquired advanced silicon material company Schmid Silicon Technology Holding GmbH (Schmid Silicon), the most technologically advanced silane producer in Europe.

As part of the acquisition, Group14 will bring online Schmid Silicon’s silane factory in Spreetal (Schwarze Pumpe), Germany, to support its expanding European operations. Group14 said that this will insulate its customers and partners from potential supply chain disruptions—particularly in the automotive industry—and sets up the company to localize integrated silicon battery technology manufacturing in Europe.

Group14’s acquisition of Schmid Silicon ensures a secure supply of silane gas, a critical precursor for Group14’s award-winning silicon battery technology, SCC55. The acquisition marries Schmid Silicon’s proven, ultra-high-purity, and low-carbon silane process technology with Group14’s commercially proven manufacturing capabilities to deliver high-energy density silicon battery materials.

As part of the acquisition, Group14 plans to retain and integrate all current Schmid Silicon employees while also offering training to transition additional hires from traditional energy sectors into clean energy. Once the factory is online and operational, Group14 expects to grow its headcount as much as 5x, and has begun scouting for its first European offices in Germany to establish operations.

Once operational, Group14’s silane factory will be a critical foothold into Europe as the company continues to expand worldwide as part of its global roadmap to build modular factories in key markets, positioning the company to meet demand for electrification across all corners of the globe. Today, Group14 is already shipping SCC55 to customers representing more than 90% of worldwide lithium-ion battery production from its first commercial-scale factory in Washington State, all while building its second US factory in Moses Lake and completing the commissioning of its joint venture factory with SK in South Korea.