ENPlus and Yulho are collaborating with domestic secondary battery equipment manufacturers to promote the 'Battery Foundry' business.
On the 17th, ENPlus and Yulho announced that they held a 'Battery Foundry' business briefing session targeting domestic secondary battery equipment companies.
The briefing session included ▲ Wonik P&E, a specialist in secondary battery assembly and charge-discharge equipment ▲ JSTech, a semiconductor and secondary battery parts company ▲ Ninetech, a secondary battery and IT material parts equipment company ▲ Gangwon Energy, a secondary battery material and cathode active material company ▲ DH, a secondary battery assembly process equipment company.
The battery foundry business promoted by ENPlus and Yulho is a contract manufacturing business that reflects customer requirements for companies such as OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and battery startups that need to produce their own cells.
As secondary battery technology rapidly advances, manufacturing difficulty is increasing. In the battery industry, the trend of separating 'development and design' from 'manufacturing,' similar to TSMC and Samsung Electronics, is accelerating. The rising prices of raw materials and equipment necessary for secondary battery manufacturing are also acting as burdens for new entrants.
ENPlus plans to enter the battery foundry business based on its own secondary battery production facilities and successful global OEM product supply references. ENPlus completed the first phase of construction at its Jeonbuk Gimje plant last year and is currently undergoing the second phase expansion.
ENPlus shows strengths in the production of electrodes (cathode and anode). It has succeeded in manufacturing anode electrodes with 100% silicon content in two forms: organic solvent-based (NMP) and aqueous (WATER), and is supplying prototype products to customers. The U.S. customer receiving these products is preparing to complete the cell mass production plant in July.
In the cathode manufacturing process, the 'Dual Slot-die' technology was applied to improve manufacturing efficiency and quality. The cathode accounts for more than 40% of the battery cost. The dual slot-die technology reduces edge lifting and unnecessary material waste during the cathode coating process and simultaneously coats ceramic and cathode active materials, shortening the drying process.
Synergy effects with affiliate Yulho are also expected to be significant. Yulho is focusing on securing secondary battery raw materials through used battery recycling and mining development in Tanzania, Africa.
An ENPlus official said, "Many companies have pursued battery internalization, but they face difficulties in mass production due to the burden of facility construction and lack of mass production experience," adding, "With the diversification of secondary battery form factors and sizes, the growth potential of the battery foundry industry is increasing."
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