Samsung SDI in talks with new notching kit supplier, to expand supply line

Samsung SDI is planning to expand its suppliers of battery notching equipment, TheElec has learned.

It is doing so for the production of Gen 5 battery, which has over 20% higher energy density than the previous generation.

Samsung SDI is looking to use the press notching. It recently held talks with a new supplier. The company will begin placing orders in the second half of the year at the earliest.

Nothing equipment is used to make the positive and negative tabs of the battery. Using a blade shaped mold to do so is called press notching.

Samsung SDI previously used press notching equipment from supplier PNT.

For batteries before Gen 5, the company used the jelly roll method of rolling all the battery materials during the production, where it used laser notching. Philoptics was the sole supplier of the laser notching equipment then.

The new supplier joining Samsung SDI’s supply chain for notching equipment is yet unknown.

People familiar with the matter said the supplier has little former dealings with Samsung SDI. The new deal shows that Samsung SDI will likely continue to use press notching equipment, the people said, while research and development into laser notching continues as well.

Another person familiar with the matter said the new supplier had previously collaborate with another South Korean battery conglomerate in the development of core production equipment. Samsung SDI’s new collaboration with this supplier could affect its relationships with its existing suppliers as well as rival battery makers.

Samsung SDI is using the stacking method instead of jelly roll for the production of Gen 5 battery. Stacking method was used more by LG Energy Solution and SK Innovation for their pouch battery production.

But Samsung SDI will be using roll to roll notching equipment. SK Innovation uses roll to sheet method.