[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] SK Nexilis, an investment company of SKC, has received the highest record certification from KRI (Korea Record Institute) for its technology that continuously produces copper foil, a core material for electric vehicle batteries, at a thickness of 1/30 of a human hair for 3 days and 4 nights. SK Nexilis plans to increase its production capacity in line with its technological prowess and leap to become the world's No.1 copper foil manufacturer.
On the 20th, SK Nexilis announced that it received the highest domestic record certification from KRI Korea Record Institute at its Jeongeup plant for "manufacturing the longest, widest, and thinnest copper foil." From June 11 to 14 last year, SK Nexilis succeeded in producing copper foil with a thickness of 4.5㎛ and a width of 1.33m in a length of 56.5km.
KRI Korea Record Institute comprehensively reviewed the purity analysis test report submitted by SK Nexilis, photos and videos showing the manufacturing and measurement process, third-party verification documents, summary reports of measurement data, record challenge overview, and independent media corroborative evidence, and confirmed the certification as a new official highest record of the Korea Record Institute.
The thinner the copper foil, the more advantageous it is for battery high-capacity and lightweight design, and the wider and longer it is, the more it leads to improved productivity for customers. However, producing thin copper foil in wide widths and long lengths requires advanced technology because thinner foil is easily torn and wrinkled. SK Nexilis has consistently demonstrated world-class technology. In 2013, it was the first in the world to mass-produce copper foil with a thickness of 6㎛, and in 2017, it was the first to mass-produce 5㎛ copper foil. In 2019, it succeeded in mass-producing 4㎛ copper foil at a length of 30km for the first time in the world.
In July, SK Nexilis was recognized for its technology by winning the Presidential Award, the highest prize of the 2019 IR (Industrial Research) 52 Jang Young-sil Award, for its "high-capacity lithium secondary battery copper foil." The IR52 Jang Young-sil Award, the most prestigious technology award in Korea, is given weekly to one product over 52 weeks a year, with the Presidential Award given to the most outstanding product among them.
To equip production capacity matching this top-level technology, SK Nexilis is accelerating expansion. Earlier this year, it completed Plant 4 at the Jeongeup plant, achieving an annual production capacity of 34,000 tons, and has started construction of Plants 5 and 6. When Plant 6 is completed in early 2022, production capacity will increase to about 52,000 tons annually.
SK Nexilis is also preparing for overseas expansion. It plans to finalize the target region within this year and then begin establishing its first overseas production facility. With continuous investment, the goal is to expand production capacity to 3 to 4 times the current level by 2025.
Kim Young-tae, CEO of SK Nexilis, said, "Following this certification, SK Nexilis plans to challenge world records such as those recognized by the World Records Committee and the Guinness Book. Based on confidence in our world-class technology, we will steadily expand production capacity and firmly establish our status as the global No.1 copper foil manufacturer."
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