Mplus and Lead competing for battery kit order from Northvolt 

Battery production equipment makers Mplus and Lead were competing to win the latest order for assembly equipment by battery maker Northvolt, TheElec has learned.

Jeil M&S is supplying Northvolt with mixing equipment, while electrode equipment is provided by CIS and Hirano Tecseed.

Sejong Technology is supplying the inspection equipment and Korea Vacuum is supplying the dry room.

China’s Lead has been supplying assembly and backend process equipment to Northvolt.

But Northvolt has placed an order thought to be worth around 100 billion won recently, in which South Korean rival Mplus is bidding.

Mplus had already provided its equipment for the Swedish firm’s research center at Vasteras.

The latest order is for Skelleftea, where Northvolt has a mass production facility.

One production line currently operates at the factory and the Swedish firm is aiming for an annual capacity of 60Gwh.

Mplus is hoping to supply notching and stacking kits. 

Northvolt had used Lead’s equipment in the past but is now preferring South Korean companies over the Chinese firm, sources said.

However, many initial investors of Northvolt has ties to Chinese fund so it will be difficult for the Swedish firm to exclude Lead completely, they added.