Hanwha Momentum announced that it has established a secondary battery R&D center process research lab to develop cutting-edge battery equipment and has begun full-scale operations.
With the creation of a new organization dedicated to process research and development within the Secondary Battery R&D Center, the development of next-generation battery equipment and manufacturing process technologies, such as all-solid-state batteries and dry processes, dubbed the “dream battery,” is expected to accelerate.
About 30 executives and employees, including Ryu Yang-sik, CEO of Hanwha Momentum, Ryu Hee-yeon, head of the Secondary Battery R&D Center, and Lee Hyeong-seop, head of the Process Management Division, attended the unveiling ceremony held at the Asan plant in South Chungcheong Province on the 13th.
The process research institute established within Hanwha Momentum’s Asan plant, which houses the secondary battery R&D center, is dedicated to research and development of next-generation battery equipment and process technologies, such as all-solid-state batteries and dry processes.
It is not common for a facility manufacturer to conduct process research directly, so the establishment of a new research center is expected to significantly expand the scope of collaboration with customers, including strengthening customized services and proposing new, more efficient processes.
The dry process is attracting attention as a next-generation battery manufacturing technology, and is evaluated as a cost-saving and eco-friendly technology compared to the existing wet process.
Global companies are also accelerating the introduction of related technologies. Tesla acquired dry electrode technology through the acquisition of Maxwell in 2019, and China’s CATL and BYD, and Japan’s Panasonic are also operating pilot lines and conducting technology development.
All-solid-state batteries are evaluated as a technology that can dramatically increase the driving range of electric vehicles due to their safety and higher energy density compared to existing lithium-ion batteries. However, they have the disadvantage of being difficult to mass-produce due to high manufacturing costs and material damage caused by ultra-high pressure.
Hanwha Momentum aims to establish a leading position in the battery equipment market starting with the establishment of this new process research center. Through the secondary battery R&D center, it plans to secure battery equipment process know-how and improve the efficiency of R&D project operation costs. It will also actively pursue market dominance by strengthening global technology competitiveness.
Earlier this year, Hanwha Momentum built equipment for dry process technology development research within the center. Battery technology patent data and dry battery materials are also on display. In the second half of this year, it plans to build additional battery cell quality and stability evaluation and all-solid-state process research spaces, and also plans to hire more research personnel.
Ryu Hee-yeon, head of the Secondary Battery R&D Center, said, “Through the newly built process research center, we will significantly strengthen our customer service and leap forward as a next-level equipment company.”
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