Australian battery materials company Firebird Metals (ASX:FRB) has completed the installation and commissioning of its proprietary cathode active material equipment at its wholly owned pilot plant in China, marking a major milestone in its development of advanced lithium-manganese-rich cathodes.
Initial production of LMR CAM is scheduled to begin in February, with customer samples planned for the second half of the year to support evaluation and qualification programs.
The development is co-funded by strategic partner Taza Metal Technologies, which is providing 50% of research and development costs, helping to de-risk Firebird’s capital investment.
LMR cathodes are designed to deliver higher energy density than conventional LFP while substantially reducing nickel and cobalt content through high manganese substitution (≥50% Mn).
Firebird is also progressing plans to deploy this technology at its Australian Demonstration Plant in 2026, which will provide a world-first integrated capability to produce LMR, LMFP, and NCM CAM in a single facility.
The move positions Firebird to meet growing global demand for safer, higher-performance, and lower-cost battery materials for electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and emerging high-energy applications such as eVTOL aircraft and robotics.
At the time of reporting, Firebird Metals' share price was $0.26.