Philoptics in talks with Samsung SDI on supplying notching equipment
To replace existing laser equipment
South Korea’s Philoptics is in talks with Samsung SDI on supplying up to 28 units of notching equipment to the Samsung affiliate’s battery facilities in Hungary, according to industry sources on Mar. 11.
Samsung SDI has been accelerating investment into its Hungary plant. Industry watchers say the introduction of the notching technology, which Samsung had said it wouldn’t deploy, indicates a push to expand capacity and stabilize yield.
Notching is typically applied when batteries are made via winding methods. So far, Samsung had applied laser notching technology. For its 5th generation batteries, however, the company will opt for the stacking method, which will require a new type of laser notching technology.
Laser notching is slower but more durable and stable compared to press notching. Philoptics’ laser notching equipment is estimated at around KRW 3 billion per unit.
Meanwhile, Samsung SDI plans to invest up to KRW 1.2 trillion into its Hungarian facilities – serving as its key battery base for the European region – until 2030, by which the firm is aiming for a monthly battery call capacity of 18 million from both its 1st and 2nd plants.
To meet with the growing battery manufacturing demand, as of Apr. 1., 2020, Philoptics spun off its battery business to create a new company called PBM.
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