Samsung SDI secures coin cell battery kits from Koem and Hana

Koem and Hana Technology have supplied core equipment to Samsung SDI necessary for the production of ultra small batteries, TheElec has learned.

The kits will be used by Samsung SDI at its Cheonan factory to produce coin cell batteries.

Koem has supplied the winders for the jelly roll process in which materials are rolled together. Hana had supplied the assembly kits used to put in the finished jelly roll to a can and then weld them and package them.

Samsung SDI is producing 85mAh and 60mAh coin cell batteries, each in separate production lines. 

The South Korean battery giant put in special care for winders as the jelly roll process becomes more difficult due to the batteries’ ultra small sizes in the mm range. Koem is the only Korean company with the technology to produce winders for ultra small batteries.

Samsung SDI is expecting demand for ultra small batteries to double this year compared to 2019. Demand is to grow even further in 2021, by up to 50%.

Ultra small batteries are 20% to 30% more pricier than conventional circular battery is expected to help the company’s profitability more than sales.

Demand for ultra small batteries are increasing rapidly due to popularity of wireless earphones such as Samsung Galaxy Buds and Apple AirPods. They also have shorter product life.

Samsung Electronics had relied on ultra small batteries produced by Varta of Germany and EVE Energy of China for its Galaxy Buds series. The company will now be able to use its local supplier Samsung SDI for them to replace some of the volumes.