Hanwha and Onejoon compete in cathode kiln supply

Hanwha and Onejoon are competing to win orders for equipment used in cathode production.

Companies such as LG Energy Solution, EcoPro EM, L&F and Cosmo AM&T are planning to expand their cathode production facilities as the battery market for electric vehicles continues to rise, which will give plenty of opportunities for Hanwha and Onejoon to win new orders.

EcoPro BM was currently using kiln made by Hanwha, while Posco Chemical was using those made by Onejoon.

Hanwha is supplying its kiln for use at EcoPro BM’s Pohang factory and Onejoon’s kiln are being used by Posco Chemical at its Gwangyang factory.

Onejoon has been a long time supplier to Posco Chemical. The South Korean kiln market is worth around 300 billion won and Onejoon controls around half of that.

Posco Chemical’s aggressive investment into its Gwangyang cathode plant has improved Onejoon’s earnings in the past two years. Onejoon’s sales in 2018 stood at 13.5 billion won but this jumped to 92.9 billion won in 2019.

Hanwha has in the past made kilns for use in solar cells. It saw kiln shipment increase as its customer EcoPro BM expanded its cathode production facilities. Hanwha has supplied the kilns for use in CAM5, EcoPro BM’s newest factory in Pohang. Hanwha’s kiln is expected to be used in CAM-5N and CAM6 factories that have started construction.

A kiln’s design determine the yield rate and productivity of cathode materials. 

Onejoon recently acquired Eisenmann Thermal Solutions of Germany and is aggressively expanding its kiln business aimed at the battery market, a person familiar with the matter said.