More Korean firms supply equipment for Tesla’s battery production

South Korea battery equipment makers Hana Technology and Korea Vacuum will supply their goods to Tesla for the latter’s battery production, TheElec has learned.

They join their compatriots Daebo Magnetic and Koem in joining the US car giant’s supply chain for battery production.

Tesla is planning to produce its own 46800 batteries starting in 2022 at the earliest. It has currently built a pilot line to verify productivity. The announced in September that it plans to secure a production capacity of 3TWh by 2030 and make battery at a lower cost.

Hana Technology supplied its kit to Tesla for use in the factory at Fremont, California. 

The precise terms of the deal and price hasn’t been revealed. However, Hana is likely supplying the assembly equipment. Koem is supplying the winders used in the winding process and Hana’s equipment will likely be used in the following assembly process.

Hana is likely supplying the inserter which puts the “jelly roll” __ which wraps around cathode, separator and anode __ into the metal can. The company pay also be supplying its equipment to meld the tabs onto the can as well as those to put in electrolyte. The deal is likely worth tens of billions of won, considering it that they are for the pilot line.

Korea Vacuum has vacuum drier for battery production. It can also make dry rooms with optimal temperature and humidity for battery production.  

Meanwhile, Koem is supplying the winders and Daebo Magnetic the electro magnetic filters. Winders, or winding machines, are used to make jelly rolls out of materials. Electro magnetic filters are used to get rid of iron and other materials in cathode. Tesla uses it to remove impurities one more time, right before the assembly process.

With Hana and Korea Vacuum joining as partners for Tesla’s battery production, its plan to produce its own batteries is likely to materialize soon. Once productivity is verified near end of 2021, the company may begin orders for equipment in full.

Tesla’s dry electrode process technology has improved to substantial levels after acquiring Maxwell Technologies, people familiar with the matter said. South Korean equipment makers have knowledge in assembly and back-end processes and will likely build Tesla’s battery production line with ease, they said.