POSCO Future M, Canadian Factory Employees Receive Technical Training in Korea

21 Key Personnel Trained for 4 Weeks at Pohang Anode Material Plant Ahead of Canada Anode Material Factory Operation

An Ultium CAM employee is testing the quality of the product through BET surface area analysis on the 24th of last month. Photo by POSCO Future M

Posco Future M has embarked on nurturing global technical talent by bringing key local personnel from its Canadian cathode material plant to Korea for technical training in preparation for the plant's operation.

According to industry sources on the 4th, Posco Future M conducted job training for 21 key employees hired locally at its Canadian joint venture 'Ultium CAM' from the 10th of last month for one month at the Pohang Talent Creation Center and the cathode material plant. These employees are field supervisor-level staff who will lead the stable operation and high-quality production of the cathode material plant with an annual capacity of 30,000 tons, established in May 2022 in Quebec, Canada, jointly with General Motors (GM) of the United States, and nearing completion.

With around 10 years of manufacturing experience, they commuted to the Pohang cathode plant for three weeks to intensively learn production, maintenance, and quality-related operational skills on-site. They gained experience necessary for mass production, including commissioning the cathode material plant. In particular, through a one-week basic and common education program at the Pohang Posco Talent Creation Center, they shared an understanding of Posco Group's vision and organizational culture, as well as the importance of safety, which forms the foundation of sustainable corporate competitiveness, and developed a sense of identity as members of the Posco Group.

Ultium CAM employees are taking a commemorative photo at POSCO Talent Creation Center in Pohang on the 12th of last month. Photo by POSCO Future M

Additionally, through programs such as tours of historical sites in Gyeongju after work, community interaction activities near the plant, and Chimaek Day (chicken and beer day), they not only enhanced their understanding of Korean culture but also reduced emotional distance.

Eric Bouchard, the local plant manager, upon completing this training, said, "Receiving high-level technical education in South Korea, which leads the battery industry, and experiencing Korean culture allowed me to understand my colleagues more deeply." He added, "We will apply the know-how learned in this training to produce world-class quality materials."

Ultium CAM will enter full-scale mass production next year after commissioning following completion. The cathode materials produced here will be eligible for tax credits under the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and are expected to be applied to batteries of Ultium Cells, a joint venture between GM and LG Energy Solution.

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