SFA recently supplied its self-developed equipment for the secondary battery assembly process to a domestic battery cell manufacturer. It targets the secondary battery process market based on its fast-processing speed and stability
SFA introduced its secondary battery assembly process equipment such as stack, degassing, and electrolyte injectors at its Asan plant in South Chungcheong Province. The strength of the stack equipment developed by this company is the stacking speed of 0.5 seconds for stacking positive and negative electrodes based on the separator. Durability is also enhanced. There was a focus on simplification of the degassing equipment, which removes the swollen gas during the initial charge and discharge process and creates the final shape. As the number of chambers in the equipment is reduced, degassing is completed only in 72 seconds.
SFA has also developed a clinching device and an electrolyte injector that creates a cylindrical battery shape using a press method. The clinching equipment is undergoing research and development (R&D) with the aim of doubling the processing speed.
SFA is also strengthening the capability of inspection equipment which prevents explosion and heat in advance. It is explained that the visual inspection device, equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) developed by SFA, has raised the detection accuracy to 95%. The company announced that it had won more than KRW 50 billion in orders in recognition of its quality.
SFA is working on improving the processing speed per minute (PPM) of the AI visual inspection device from the current speed of 13 PPM to 22 PPM.
The inline CT inspector is a device that inspects the assembly state. In the past, the assembly state inspection was conducted in the sampling method, but the SFA inspection machine is installed in the production process, which allows for a complete investigation. It is explained that the speed has been reduced from the existing 3-5 minutes to 24 seconds per cell inspection.
SFA expects significant growth in sales of inline CT scanners with improved speed and lowered inspection costs. An SFA official said, “We are appealing the quality of inline CT inspection machines directly to automakers that are sensitive to heat and explosion issues.”
By Staff Reporter Yoon-seop Song sys@etnews.com