Philenergy, an affiliate of Philoptics, is developing next-generation secondary battery laser notching equipment. This equipment uses a laser to cut and trim key materials for secondary batteries. It is characterized by reducing heat loss by irradiating the later.
Philenergy's laser notching equipment is currently under development, and it irradiates laser sources in picosecond units. Picosecond means a trillionth of a second. The electrode material can be cut by stinging the laser light source to 1 trillionth of a second. The cathode and anode materials of the secondary battery are cut into appropriate sizes. Compared to existing press-type mold notching equipment, positive and negative materials can be precisely cut into certain sizes.
Compared to conventional laser notching, the cutting speed is faster and heat loss occurs less during the process. Notching equipment is expected to replace existing equipment due to their high yield and improved electrode quality. Three South Korean battery companies, LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, and SK On, are actively introducing this equipment.
Philenergy was established by Philoptics, a semiconductor display equipment company, in a material division method. It is trying to expand its equipment portfolio after entering the secondary battery equipment market. It is planning to expand its product line to laser notching equipment following stack equipment that stacks electrode materials.
Philenergy's goal is to complete the development of their Picosecond Laser Notching Equipment by the end of this year. "Following the display equipment business, we will expand our product portfolio to the secondary battery equipment field," said an official from Philoptics.
Philoptics previously applied their laser notching equipment to display panels for mobile devices. Laser notching equipment was also applied to organic light emitting diode (OLED) panels and laser protective ultra-thin glass (UTG). Philoptics developed and commercialized the world's first equipment that cuts UTG with a laser.
By Staff Reporter Ji-woong Kim (jw0316@etnews.com)