Abingdon: Johnson Matthey opens battery centre at Milton Park
Johnson Matthey (JM), the global leader in sustainable technologies, is to open a new battery application centre at the business and science community of Milton Park in Oxfordshire. JM has taken 22,857 sq ft over three floors at 142 Park Drive consisting of a newly-built office and laboratory development.
JM is developing next generation battery materials with improved energy density (so the mileage of battery electric vehicles between charges can be increased), pulse power (for improved acceleration) and safety, while minimising the use of expensive and scarce raw material such as cobalt. JM’s family of ultra-high energy density eLNO® cathode active materials delivers improvements in all these critical performance areas.
Dan Baker, financial director, battery materials at Johnson Matthey, said: “Our site at Milton Park will be at the leading edge of battery technology. We will use our science and problem-solving ability here to work with leading automotive companies to develop tailored solutions for their applications. JM is a global leader in science, and we believe this site will help us in our mission to make the world cleaner and healthier.”
Philip Campbell, commercial director, Milton Park added: “We’re honoured and excited for Johnson Matthey to join the Milton Park community. We’re proud that the existing community and Park has attracted this global company to make Milton Park a home for their pioneering battery technology centre. The buildings at Park Drive East were designed for optimum flexibility and we’re looking forward to seeing how Johnson Matthey uses the building to house both laboratories and offices. We wish them continued success as they unlock the answers to the exciting future that is battery technology.”
The letting to Johnson Matthey has meant that 142 Park Drive is fully let. RM, a leading supplier of technology and resources to the education sector, supporting schools, teachers and pupils across the globe, and an existing Milton Park occupier, relocated into part of the building earlier this year. RM moved from 140 Eastern Avenue to take 17,927 sq ft across two floors.
