Zhong Tan's Pingnan Plant R&D Center Officially Opens, Targeting Three Major Carbon Material Markets in AI, New Energy, and Semiconductors

Zhong Tan (1723-TW), a subsidiary of China Steel (2002-TW), officially inaugurated its R&D center at the Pingnan Plant in the Pingnan Industrial Park, Fangliao Township, Pingtung County today (29), investing NT$187 million to strengthen its position in the carbon material markets for AI, new energy, and semiconductors.

Huang Chien-chih, Chairman of both China Steel and Zhong Tan, stated that with the rapid global growth of industries such as AI servers, electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and semiconductors, Zhong Tan is accelerating the development of advanced carbon materials and isostatic graphite, while also refining related production processes. The R&D center at the Pingnan Plant is not only an innovation hub for high-end carbon materials and the development of sophisticated carbon products tailored to market needs, but also a key driver in the comprehensive upgrade of its operational structure.

Since its inauguration in 2018, Zhong Tan's Pingnan Plant has undergone multiple expansions and now boasts a carbonization capacity of 4,000 tons and a graphitization capacity of 6,000 tons. With the launch of the R&D center, the Pingnan Plant officially becomes a core development base for high-end carbon materials, advancing both production and R&D in parallel. The company will continue to focus on three core refined carbon material products: anode materials, advanced carbon materials, and isostatic graphite.

For lithium-ion battery anode materials, Zhong Tan is developing carbon materials for applications in drones, vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, electric racing cars, and high-end fast-charging smartphones. For advanced carbon materials, the company is targeting key materials required for supercapacitors and lithium-ion capacitors, aiming to capture business opportunities in green energy storage and AI server battery backup units (BBU) systems. For isostatic graphite blocks, Zhong Tan is developing high-purity, high-density, and high-strength products to meet the crucible demands for silicon-based and silicon carbide semiconductor crystal growth, aiming to reduce reliance on imported critical materials and strengthen the resilience of the domestic supply chain.

Zhong Tan's board recently approved an expansion project for its advanced carbon material line by 500 tons and its isostatic graphite line by 720 tons at the Pingnan Plant, with a total investment of approximately NT$1.452 billion. The expansion will be carried out in two phases, with the first phase expected to be completed and operational by the first quarter of next year, creating a new wave of growth momentum.