ENPlus Establishes Mass Production Facility for Secondary Batteries

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyungsoo Park] ENPlus is actively bringing in major manufacturing equipment to its secondary battery material factory. It expects sales related to secondary batteries to increase from the end of this year when mass production begins.

ENPlus announced on the 11th that it has completed the installation of all major manufacturing equipment at its secondary battery core material factory under construction in the Gimje Free Trade Zone, Jeonbuk. This includes the latest coaters and roll-to-roll (Roll to Roll) rolling equipment, as well as secondary battery material manufacturing facilities.

Using this equipment, ENPlus plans to produce "high-durability, high-output secondary battery electrodes" and establish research and development (R&D) infrastructure. In March last year, it signed a business agreement with the secondary battery venture company Green Energy to develop next-generation secondary batteries based on graphene materials. In May this year, ENPlus signed a 22 billion KRW supply contract for secondary battery materials with Green Energy.

ENPlus has also secured related patented technologies. It obtained key patent technology from the Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation of Chonnam National University for mass production of high-quality carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Based on this patented technology, it is developing next-generation secondary battery materials such as conductive agents with excellent dispersibility and conductivity.

An ENPlus official said, "Once the secondary battery material mass production factory is completed, ENPlus will take a step closer to developing next-generation battery materials such as high-nickel all-solid-state batteries."

He added, "Sales of eco-friendly electric vehicle heat dissipation materials will begin in earnest from the fourth quarter of this year," and "Sales in the new secondary battery business division will increase starting next year when mass production begins."

Earlier, in September last year, ENPlus signed an investment agreement with Gimje City for process expansion to produce core materials and parts for eco-friendly electric vehicle secondary batteries worth 35 billion KRW. According to the agreement, ENPlus completed a factory for secondary battery heat dissipation gap fillers that prevent electric vehicle explosions in the Gimje Free Trade Zone in July this year. ENPlus is currently raising 35 billion KRW in funding to strengthen its mining development and secondary battery business.