Hello Team,

I just had a conversation with a senior executive involved with Forge 
Nano, a US based lithium -ion battery cell manufacturing company.

Executive Summary:

Daniel Sheridan and Jordan Wroblewski discussed supply chain solutions, 
domestic battery manufacturing, and partnership opportunities to boost 
U.S.-based lithium battery cell and pack production for defense and 
commercial customers, emphasizing American ownership and independence 
from China.

Key Takeaways

Forge Nano's Position & Plans:

Forge Nano has secured $100M from the DOE and is building a 3 GW 
gigafactory in Raleigh, NC, with plans for additional U.S. lithium cell 
production, especially 18650s and 21700s.
They will maintain their existing 400 MW pilot line in Thornton, 
Colorado, which has been operational for several years and is critical 
for early-stage production and de-risking scale-up.
Utilizing proprietary atomic layer deposition (Atomic Armor), Forge 
Nano's technology offers superior battery performance and tunability.
Strategy: Focused on full U.S.-based manufacturing and supply chain 
security, especially for defense (DoD/Blue UAS) applications.

Daniel Sheridan's Background:

Daniel Sheridan has deep expertise in the U.S. defense industrial base, 
having previously served as a senior defense industrial base expert at 
the Pentagon.
He helped establish the Pentagon's foreign investment team, specifically 
to ensure U.S. defense supply chain resilience and secure critical 
manufacturing capabilities.

Drones and Motors Discussion:

Daniel highlighted that a key motivation for these domestic battery 
manufacturing efforts is to secure the supply chain for U.S. drones and 
motors.
There is a significant national security focus on producing batteries 
and motors domestically for drones, ensuring readiness and capability in 
times of crisis.
Daniel emphasized that currently, U.S. defense faces risks due to 
foreign dependency in critical areas such as drone power and propulsion, 
and this partnership directly targets closing those gaps.

Collaboration Opportunities:

Mutual Need: Forge Nano requires a U.S.-based pack partner and is 
seeking to align with companies similarly committed to American 
manufacturing, especially for government/DoD clients.
Both parties expressed explicit interest in forming a throughput 
multi-year contract to lock in capacity, support scaling efforts, and 
provide predictability for investment and growth.
Facility/FTZ/Rail access at LBC aligns with Forge Nano's expansion plans 
in NC.
Both are committed to zero Chinese investment and reinforcing the U.S. 
supply chain for critical defense applications.

Action Items & Next Steps:

Forge Nano to discuss strategic alignment and possibly expedite further 
partnership; Daniel will update after board meeting (1-1.5 weeks).
LBC to send a capability statement to Daniel Sheridan.
Consider site visits, technical deep dives (Forge Nano CTO ↔ LBC tech 
leads), and engagement on public-private scaling via potential 
reindustrialization partnerships.
Both parties to keep open for collaboration on future pilot lines, 
recycling, pouch lines, and specialized battery tech.

Strategic Impact:

U.S. Battery Sovereignty: This alliance directly addresses government 
and defense imperatives for secure, scalable American battery 
manufacturing, especially for drone and motor use cases.
Growth Trajectory: The partnership could accelerate both organizations' 
paths to 3-5 GW+ annual production capacity, with multi-year throughput 
agreements locking in long-term revenue and operational stability.
Market Position: Early, trusted partnerships with U.S. cell 
manufacturers position LBC as the go-to for Pack solutions in key U.S. 
federal programs.

Recommendations:

Prioritize rapid engagement and detailed negotiation of multi-year 
throughput agreements with Forge Nano.
Prepare for joint demonstration/pilot opportunities, especially in DoD, 
UAS, and Second Life/recycling sectors.
Mobilize executive contacts and leverage public-private partnerships for 
capital and government relations support.

This partnership sets the stage for true American battery supply chain 
independence and high-value government/industrial contracts, with a 
special emphasis on drone and motor applications critical to U.S. 
defense readiness and long-term supply continuity secured by the 
contemplated throughput contract.

As soon as I have the meeting set with their team in the next 1-1.5 
weeks I will let you know to get you involved.

-- 
Jordan Wroblewski
VP, Business Development

mavrix1.com [1]


Links:
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[1] http://mavrix1.com/