Softcen announced on the 13th that it has received an order for X-Ray inspection equipment for battery cathode active material containers (Sagger) from SMLab, an affiliate of Geumyang.
SMLab was the first in the world to develop single-crystal cathode materials. According to Softcen, the inspection equipment will be delivered to the L2 and L3 production lines located in Ulsan.
SMLab operates a highly efficient cathode material production line using a single-crystal dry process. Conventional cathode materials have a polycrystalline structure composed of multiple metal materials such as nickel, cobalt, and manganese, which causes the lifespan to deteriorate rapidly due to repeated charging and discharging. In contrast, single-crystal cathode materials reduce cracks between particles, thereby increasing lifespan and energy density.
According to Softcen, "When our X-Ray inspection equipment is applied to the single-crystal cathode material production process, it can distinguish fine cracks that are difficult to identify with the naked eye," adding, "As a result, it is possible to reuse normal products among cathode material containers that were previously discarded entirely, significantly improving cost efficiency."
They also stated, "If the inspection equipment is successfully applied to the L2 and L3 production lines, we plan to supply the equipment not only to other production lines of SMLab but also to domestic and international cathode material manufacturers in the future," adding, "We also plan to expand the market by applying it to silicon-based anode material containers."
Previously, Softcen successfully entered the LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery market by supplying X-Ray inspection equipment for LFP batteries to ONE (Our Next Energy), a partner of Tesla.
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