ZAF Energy Systems Inc. (ZAF), a Columbia Falls, Mont.-based developer of next-generation battery technology, opened a new production facility in Joplin, Mo., dedicated to manufacturing its initial line of rechargeable nickel zinc (NiZn) batteries. The new facility is expected to bring in over 100 jobs.

The additional production capability will enable ZAF to meet growing customer demand, accelerate licensing and joint venture negotiations and commercialize NiZn batteries on a global scale.

“We just weren’t able to keep up with the demand with the capacity we had in Montana,” says Randy Moore, president and CEO. “The new production facility in Joplin will drastically scale up production to several thousand batteries per month, enabling us to keep pace with growing demand while also refining manufacturing processes and accelerating development efforts. The end result will be a turnkey engineering package we can deliver to manufacturers with customer demand already built into the equation.”

Montana will continue to serve as ZAF’s research and development hub, and by the end of the year, ZAF will transfer five current employees from its Montana location and hire 20 new employees to work alongside.