SK On to begin placing equipment order for planned Hungary battery factory 

SK On is expected to begin placing orders for equipment to use on its planned battery factory at Ivancsa, Hungary, TheElec has learned.

The orders will be placed this month at the earliest and no later than during the first quarter, sources said.

SK On, the battery subsidiary of SK Innovation, initially planned to place the orders during the third quarter last year. But this was delayed due to its focus on forming a joint venture with Ford.

During the foundation work on factory grounds, historic relics were uncovered, which further delayed the construction schedule.

The South Korean company will place orders for formation equipment first, the sources said.

It will then place orders for equipment used for logistics, mixing, plating and assembly sequentially, the said.

The factory at Ivancsa will be 20 minutes away by car from Ford’s car factory and an hour and 20 minutes away by car from Mercedes-Benz’s factory there.

SK On’s orders are expected to be a boon to its equipment suppliers in South Korea, which has seen a draught of orders for the past six months.