49th Power Sources Conference Monday, 20 June, 2022 to Thursday, 23 June, 2022 UMC buys lithium-ion battery materials firm Pred Materials International Fri, 04/30/2021 - 10:13 -- Paul Crompton Lithium-ion battery raw materials firm Pred Materials International has been bought by US company United Mineral & Chemical Corporation (UMC). Pred vendors have signed on to support the buy out, with UMC continuing the Pred line of products. Pred was founded in 1996, and has built a reputation in the lithium-ion battery market as an supplier of raw materials, tools, and equipment to make electrochemical cells for a variety of consumer, industrial and aerospace applications. Pred was chosen to supply the cathode powder used in all Mars Rover and Lander vehicle lithium-ion batteries.