AnteoTech locks in binding Xerabrid deal to commercialise combined battery separator
AnteoTech (ASX: ADO) has executed a Strategic Collaboration and Sales Agreement (“SCSA”) with South Korean separator technology company Xerabrid Corporation, progressing the binding Term Sheet the parties signed on 26 May 2026.
The Agreement covers the “joint development, marketing, manufacture and sale” of a combined high-performance separator product incorporating Anteo S™ and Xerabrid’s Ceramic Coated Separator (“CCS”) technology.
Early commercial signals are notable. Seven international energy storage device manufacturers and OEMs have already requested product samples, all of which are to be delivered by October 2026.
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What the SCSA delivers
The SCSA formalises the commercial framework between the two companies for joint development, marketing, manufacture and sale of the combined product. It spans sample production and supply, sales conversion activities, further product development, manufacturing scale-up and sales profit sharing.
The Agreement also provides for different commercial-scale manufacturing models, including in-house manufacturing, toll manufacturing and licensing. Protection and ownership of existing and new intellectual property (IP) is addressed under the SCSA, while the specific commercial terms remain confidential.
The combined product was jointly developed over the past three months and has demonstrated performance as a thinner, more thermally stable separator. Testing achieved the following results:
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0% separator shrinkage after exposure to 150°C for one hour
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Enhanced mechanical strength, including improved puncture strength
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A thinner, more thermally stable separator supporting high energy density, high power and improved battery safety
For investors, the significance lies in positioning. By supplying a fully formulated, ready-to-test combined product rather than Anteo S™ alone, AnteoTech moves further along the battery separator value chain and closer to the end customer.
Seven manufacturers and OEMs already lining up for samples
Since May 2026, AnteoTech and Xerabrid have jointly met with seven international energy storage device manufacturers and OEMs. All seven have requested samples of the combined product, which will be provided by October 2026.
One customer has requested a 1,000-metre roll for prototyping and pre-commercial scale trials, with further customer meetings scheduled over the coming four weeks.
The potential customers broadly fall into four categories:
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Defence sector eVTOL and drone battery manufacturers
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Consumer electronic battery manufacturers
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Supercapacitor manufacturers for high-performance applications
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Consumer electronic device OEMs
Merrill Gray, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of AnteoTech
“Customer engagement since May has been encouraging. We have now met with seven international manufacturers and OEMs, all of whom have requested samples of the combined product, including one request for a 1,000-metre roll for prototyping. Our focus now is to manufacture these samples, support customer testing and work towards converting this interest into commercial sales.”
Why separator technology matters
A separator is a critical safety component in a lithium-ion battery. It prevents direct contact between the anode (negative electrode) and cathode (positive electrode), which can otherwise cause a short circuit and potentially lead to thermal runaway and battery fires.
Why does separator thickness matter? Thinner separators allow more space within the battery for active electrode material, which can increase energy storage capacity and support the fast charge and discharge rates required in next-generation applications.
Anteo S™ has been designed to improve the thermal stability and mechanical performance of CCS. This can enable customers to use thinner ceramic coating layers while maintaining separator performance.
| Anteo S™ demonstrated capability | Why it matters for investors |
|---|---|
| Significantly reduces shrinkage above 150°C (PE separators) | Improves battery safety |
| Significantly reduces shrinkage at 200°C (PP separators) | Supports higher-temperature stability |
| Up to 65% reduction in ceramic coating thickness | More space for energy storage |
| Improved puncture and tensile strength | Supports safety and high-speed manufacturing |
The coating thickness reduction ranges from a minimum of 35% up to a maximum of 65%, based on Xerabrid and multi-customer test results shared with AnteoTech.
Who is Xerabrid?
Established in 2018, Xerabrid is a South Korean high-performance separator technology company led by CEO and Managing Director Dr Chris Song. Dr Song holds a PhD from Northwestern University in the USA and has previously held senior roles with SK Energy, a major supplier of separator films for battery cells, and served as R&D Director at Celgard, a major lithium-ion battery separator manufacturer in the USA.
Xerabrid owns and operates R&D facilities and a pilot-scale separator manufacturing facility in South Korea, and is planning to expand into commercial-scale manufacturing capacity. The company develops and manufactures separators for both lithium-ion batteries and lithium-sulphur batteries, with a focus on performance and safety.
For AnteoTech, the partnership adds formulation expertise, testing capability, manufacturing capacity and industry networks, complementing the Anteo S™ platform as it moves towards commercial sales.
Next steps and the road to sales
With the SCSA now executed, AnteoTech and Xerabrid are focused on several near-term priorities:
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Further business development and marketing of the combined product, including at the US Battery Show in Detroit, USA, from 12 to 15 October 2026, where AnteoTech’s Battery business EGM, Manuel Wieser, is confirmed as a speaker and Xerabrid will exhibit
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Manufacturing and supplying combined product samples for testing, with sample production costs predominantly borne by Xerabrid and AnteoTech supplying a limited quantity of Anteo S™ free of charge for initial market seeding
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Supporting customer testing and converting successful evaluations into commercial sales orders
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Supporting Xerabrid’s planned scale-up to commercial manufacturing capacity during CY2027
The companies have set out an indicative three-phase timeline under the SCSA.
| Phase | Activity | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Ultra-thin combined product samples produced and dispatched to potential customers; results-based sales conversion | August to December 2026 |
| #2 | Expanded sample range; further manufacturing scale-up; greater market awareness and sales growth | January to June 2027 |
| #3 | Further product development based on customer feedback | July 2027 onwards |
Marketing efforts will initially focus on the USA, South Korea, India and Japan. The Company noted that China currently accounts for more than 50% of global separator manufacturing capacity, and it is exploring potential sales opportunities in that market, with further updates to be provided as they become available.
The SCSA is expected to expand AnteoTech’s customer base and support product sales by positioning Anteo S™ closer to the end customer’s intended use format. The Company expects this approach to expedite customer sample testing and potentially accelerate product uptake as it continues to build the customer base for Anteo S™ across global separator manufacturers.
Anteo C battery primer coating, the second ABT product launched in 2026 following Anteo S, targets aluminium current collectors for LFP cathode production and is already undergoing manufacturing-scale Roll-to-Roll trials with a South Korean contract coating company, extending AnteoTech’s commercial footprint across the battery supply chain.
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