U.S.-based manufacturing eliminates Chinese supply chain risk, supporting secure domestic lithium production
OAKLAND, CA, UNITED STATES, January 7, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Lilac Solutions, a leading provider of direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology, today announced it has completed construction of its commercial-scale ion exchange media (IXM) manufacturing line in Fernley, Nevada. The facility will initially produce 200 tonnes of IXM per year, sufficient to support up to 100,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) production globally.
The facility represents a critical step in securing domestic lithium supply chains. Most commercial DLE technologies rely on media manufactured in China, exposing lithium projects to supply chain vulnerabilities highlighted by recent Chinese export restrictions on battery materials and processing technology. Lilac’s U.S.-based manufacturing provides customers with a secure, stable supply of extraction media using commodity precursors sourced from the United States and allied nations.
“Completing this facility puts Lilac in a unique position with both U.S.-designed lithium extraction technology and U.S.-manufactured extraction media,” said Raef Sully, chief executive officer of Lilac. “As China tightens control over battery supply chains, our domestic manufacturing capability gives lithium producers a secure alternative that doesn’t depend on Chinese suppliers.”
Lilac’s IXM is a proprietary ceramic-based material engineered for exceptional performance in lithium extraction. The material delivers up to 10,000 operational cycles before replacement, 20x higher media productivity than conventional alumina adsorbents, and superior lithium selectivity across brine types, including ultra low-grade brines and challenging brine chemistries. These performance characteristics translate directly into lower capital and operating costs for lithium producers.
The Fernley facility features scalable infrastructure designed to expand production as customer demand grows. The facility is designed to support up to 500,000 tpa LCE of global lithium production capacity through additional manufacturing lines.
Commissioning is now underway, with IXM production scheduled to begin in mid-2026. The first production batches will supply Lilac’s commercial lithium facility at the Great Salt Lake in Utah, currently in development. The Great Salt Lake project will nearly double U.S. lithium production when Phase 1 comes online in 2027. The Fernley facility is part of the Nevada Tech Hub’s “Lithium Loop” initiative, connecting U.S. mining, extraction, and processing technology with domestic battery production and recycling.
Together with the Great Salt Lake project in Utah, the facilities form a vertically integrated domestic supply chain from extraction media manufacturing through battery-grade lithium carbonate production.
About Lilac
Lilac delivers modern direct lithium extraction technology that unlocks brine resources to scale supply for global electrification. Lilac’s ion exchange technology enables high lithium recovery with minimal water use and no evaporation ponds, providing a sustainable alternative to conventional extraction methods. Lilac’s technology has been proven through multiple pilot and demonstration plants globally and is advancing to commercial scale. Lilac is headquartered in Oakland, California, with manufacturing in Fernley, Nevada. Learn more at lilacsolutions.com.
Elizabeth Pond
VP of Communications & Brand, Lilac Solutions
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