Samsung SDI has begun expanding its EV battery facilities in Europe, beginning with its plant in Hungary in a bid to snare orders in the latter half of this year.
Industry sources said on Feb. 19 that in line with such moves, Samsung SDI has tapped South Korea’s Philoptics on purchasing stacking equipment. The orders are likely to be around 20 units, which are forecast to enter the plant in 2021 – enough to cover both Plant No.1 and No.2 in Hungary.
Samsung SDI will be applying the stacking technology in the Hungary plant. The pilot line will be handled by Mplus, which manufacturers mostly equipment for pouch-type batteries.
“Samsung SDI has been working together with Philoptics for several years now to improve the efficiency of square-type batteries,” said one industry watcher.
The Samsung affiliate plans to wrap up the phase 1 investment into its Hungary EV battery plant by 2021 involving two production lines. Each line requires two to four stacking investment.
Philoptics has previously supplied Samsung SDI with notching equipment. "Philoptics’ notching equipment is low in prices, and the margin is only around 10%, while stacking equipment can raise revenues of around KRW 40 billion per line, with the contract expected to last around 3 years,” said another market watcher.
Samsung SDI will be making a total of KRW 1.2 trillion worth of investments into its Hungary plant by 2030. Over that period of time, the company is aiming to secure a battery capacity of up to a monthly 18 million cells from its No.1 and No.2 plant combined. Around 6 million would come from its first plant, and another 12 million from its second.
Meanwhile, Philoptics will be splitting its business to focus more on battery equipment. On Feb. 27, the firm will be holding a shareholders’ meeting on the issue.
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