Youil developing battery kit for Samsung and LG

Youil Energy Tech was developing roll to roll notching equipment for battery production to reduce its reliance on sales from SK Innovation.

The company said 99.9% of its sales in the third quarter of 2020 came from SK Innovation.

Youil was currently supplying roll to sheet notching equipment to SK Innovation. It is the exclusive supplier of the kit. The equipment stacks battery material with the cathode and anode tab formed into a magazine.

Samsung SDI and LG Energy Solution doesn’t use this method and instead uses roll to roll method.

Youil begin its equipment supply to SK Innovation in earnest in 2017. SK Innovation accounted for 83.6% of its sales. In 2019, the company reduced this to 47.4% by winning to Chinese battery makers as customers. 

Youil’s roll to roll equipment development is highly likely to be aimed at winning supply deal with Samsung and LG.

Notching in the battery production process is done to make the cathode and anode tabs. It is one of the first steps in the production process. Stacking, tab welding and degassing steps follow.

Youil Energy Tech developed a laser notching equipment. Most conventional pressing has used the pressing method where metal blades are used. Laser can cut the tabs more cleanly and has low defect rate. There is no need to change the metal mold periodically. But the laser method is slower and the equipment costs more.

Youil’s biggest rival is Mplus. Mplus is also a supplier to SK Innovation. Mplus’ mainstay is welding and packaging equipment but it also supplies notching and stacking kits.

Youil posted 46.9 billion won in sales last year. This is more than double its sales of 2018 of 17.4 billion won. Youil posted 41.5 billion won in the first half of 2020 alone and is expected to post record sales in 2020. It was developing equipment for, besides electric car batteries, energy storage systems, small batteries and hydrogen fuel cell.

The company is aiming to list on KOSDAQ in February. It is offering 2.41 million shares, priced at between 11,000 won to 14,000 won per share. It is aiming to secure funds between 26.6 billion won to 33.8 billion won. Demand forecast will commence from January 21 to 22.