Blue Whale Materials LLC

One thing that stands out after every NAATBatt International Recycling & Lifecycle Management Workshop is how collaborative this industry really is. While everyone plays a different role in the battery value chain, the conversations consistently come back to the same goal: building a stronger, more circular battery ecosystem. Christina Chilcote, Director of Business Development, shared updates on an exciting new chapter for Blue Whale Materials LLC, including our expanded capacity to make high quality Blacksand coming online this month, recent growth capital investments from Breakwall Capital LP and Ara Partners, and the appointment of our new CEO, Jack (JL) Johnson. Together, these milestones position us to continue advancing battery recycling and strengthening North America’s domestic critical minerals supply chain.

Blue Whale Materials LLC is proud to announce two milestones that take us into a new phase of commercial scale-up.    Today, we announced the closing of significant growth capital financing from Breakwall Capital LP, along with additional equity funding from Ara Partners. This funding launches us into our next phase of commercial operations with our 20ktpa expanded line coming online this month in Bartlesville, OK and supports further expansion in connection with the company's DOE partnership.   Alongside this new capital, Blue Whale Materials has appointed Jack (JL) Johnson as Chief Executive Officer. Johnson brings two decades of advanced manufacturing experience, including end-to-end management of one of the first large-scale lithium-ion battery manufacturing facilities in the U.S. Co-founder Robert Kang, who has led BWM as CEO since its founding, will remain on the Board and will focus on advancing the company's commercial partnerships. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/g8wM_dym

We're #hiring a new Strategy & Public Affairs Associate in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Apply today or share this post with your network.

Our Co-Founder & CEO Robert Kang takes the stage in Nashville next week to deliver the opening keynote at the Battery and Universal Waste Recycling Conference. In a fireside chat with Jim Keefe of Recycling Today, Robert will share what it takes to run and scale our Bartlesville Facility today, and where he sees lithium-ion recycling heading. Join us - 📍 8:00am on June 9th, 2026 #BatteryRecycling #CircularEconomy #CriticalMinerals #Sustainability

The DeLorean might not have been electric—but plenty of vehicles soon to reach end-of-life are. ⚡ Blue Whale Materials LLC will be at the URG Training Conference next week, May 7–9, 2026 in Denver, CO. Stop by Table #116 to connect with Christina Chilcote, David Monk, and Ella DeBode about our testing-to-recycling and logistics solutions for end-of-life EV and hybrid batteries. #BatteryRecycling #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #URG2026

We're excited to share that Co-Founder & CEO Robert Kang will open Recycling Today's 2026 Battery and Universal Waste Recycling Conference as the keynote speaker.   Robert will bring a perspective straight from the plant floor: what it takes to run and scale a lithium-ion recycling facility, and what it means for U.S. critical mineral security. 📍 Join us in Nashville, June 8–9. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gAP3UcUB

Make sure to stop by Booth 2734, if you're attending #ReMA2026 next week and looking for: 🔋 End-of-life lithium-ion battery recycling; ♻️ Critical minerals recovery; and⚡ Safe, efficient battery lifecycle testing & logistics solutions. We’d love to connect—reach out to schedule a meeting with Christina Chilcote, David Monk, or Ella DeBode ahead of the show, or stop by the booth to start the conversation. See you in Las Vegas!

One month out! The Blue Whale Materials LLC team is gearing up for the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA) 2026 Convention & Exposition in Las Vegas on April 13-16, and excited to connect with industry partners and peers from across the entire recycling community. If you'll be attending #ReMA2026, make a note to stop by Booth 2734 to talk about the latest in solutions throughout the battery lifecycle from state-of-health testing to end-of-life battery recycling and critical minerals recovery. In the meantime, send a message to Christina Chilcote, David Monk, or Ella DeBode to set up a meeting.

⚡ Headed to Detroit next week? So are we. Blue Whale Materials LLC is looking forward to connecting with leaders across the battery reuse and recycling ecosystem at the 5th Annual Battery Recycling & Reuse USA 2026 on March 4 & 5, 2026. If you'll be at the conference, message David Monk or Ella DeBode to set up a time to connect - we'd love to meet to discuss testing for reuse with BW Energy & Innovation and/or end-of-life recycling at our Bartlesville, OK facility.

Our team enjoyed attending Bartlesville Chamber of Commerce's Eggs & Issues – Politics Over Breakfast this morning. It was great to hear how Rep, Judd Strom, Rep. John B. Kane, and Sen. Julie Daniels are dedicated to supporting industry, including BWM's rapidly expanding operations!