Mplus, a battery production equipment supplier to SK On, will also develop equipment for its main customer’s rival LG Energy Solution, TheElec has learned.
The company participated in a recent event hosted by LG Energy Solution at its factory in Ochang.
LG Energy Solution held the event to showcase its new battery production processes currently in development.
The firm introduced direct stacking, an improvement of its own on z-stacking, as well as single lamination, its process to improve lamination yield and speed.
The event was held to look for partners to develop the relevant production equipment.
Mplus was one of ten companies that took part in the event. All of them were scheduled for different dates and times of the day for security.
LG Energy Solution is attempting to form its own battery production equipment supply chain, instead of going through LG Electronics’ Production engineering Research Institute (PRI).
The institute, mostly called LG PRI, had handled the procurement of production equipment for LG affiliates, in which it takes a commission.
Mplus had been supplying notching, stacking, packaging and tab welding equipment to SK On, the battery-making subsidiary of SK Innovation.
The equipment maker is known for its stacking and packaging technologies.
It supplied the majority of packaging equipment used by SK On.
Its close relationship was thought to make it unlikely that it will also supply its kits to LG Energy Solution.
However, SK Innovation had been procuring equipment from Youil Energy Tech, Woowon Technology and Hana Technology for ones it had mostly procured from Mplus.
Mplus also recently clinched Northvolt as a customer and is also diversifying its customer in reaction to this.
