2023 Archived Content

Cambridge EnerTech’s

Advances in Production & Automation for Global Battery Manufacturing

Maximizing Production Efficiency & Quality to Deliver on Global Demand

December 13-14, 2023



As the world scrambles to increase battery manufacturing capacity in order to fulfill the global demand for electric vehicles, automation of manufacturing processes becomes another critical component to the successful consumer adoption of EVs. It is estimated that the ramping up of global battery production will create an annual business opportunity for the equipment industry of $12-17 billion by 2027. This conference track will bring together the major players in manufacturing automation for battery production. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from the organizations shaping the future of battery manufacturing from around the world.

Wednesday, December 13

Registration Open7:45 am

Organizer's Welcome Remarks2:00 pm

Craig Wohlers, Executive Director, Conferences, Cambridge EnerTech

INNOVATION IN MANUFACTURING PRODUCTION

2:05 pm

Chairperson's Remarks

Ken Hoffman, Senior Expert, EV Battery Value Chain, McKinsey & Co.

2:10 pm

Recent Progress of Na-ion Batteries and It's Commercial (EDV and ESS) Applications and Adaptability to Existing Battery Manufacturing Production Lines

John Zhang, PhD, CTO/CSO, Polypore International LP

Na-ion is produced in relatively large scale at the Li-ion production line. Car with 500Km/percharge and $8300 for 4 person is on sale now. Expect to reduce the battery price by another 50% within 2 years. ESS is running 2 years now with 1MWh station.

2:30 pm

Improvement of the Weld Joint in Ultrasonic Welding by Laser Structuring of the Current Collectors

Hakon Gruhn, Research Associate, Technical University of Braunschweig

A limiting factor in the manufacture of high-capacity cells in pouch format is the internal contacting of the current collectors with the arrester tab. Ultrasonic welding has proven to be a robust and quality-assured process there. At the same time, the number of weldable foils is limited, especially on the anode side. However, laser structuring of the copper foils in the area of contacting can roughen the surface and produce a better contacting quality. This effect is reflected in increased mechanical strength and reduced electrical resistance.

2:50 pm

Upscaling of 3D Electrode Architectures for High-Performance EV Batteries

Wilhelm Pfleging, PhD, Head of Group Laser Materials Processing/Lithium-Ion Batteries, Institute for Applied Materials (IAM-AWP), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

3D architectures in high-mass-loaded electrodes have significant impact for electrochemical performance of lithium-ion batteries, such as cycle lifetime, lithium-plating, cell degradation, and high-rate capability. Fast charging and high power operation for high energy batteries with thick-film electrodes becomes possible. Ultrafast laser structuring of cathodes and anodes in roll-to-roll processes is currently being upscaled to push this technology towards TRL6 and beyond.

3:10 pm MODERATED Q&A:

Session Wrap-Up

PANEL MODERATOR:

Ken Hoffman, Senior Expert, EV Battery Value Chain, McKinsey & Co.

PANELISTS:

John Zhang, PhD, CTO/CSO, Polypore International LP

Hakon Gruhn, Research Associate, Technical University of Braunschweig

Wilhelm Pfleging, PhD, Head of Group Laser Materials Processing/Lithium-Ion Batteries, Institute for Applied Materials (IAM-AWP), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing (Sponsorship Opportunity Available)3:25 pm

4:10 pm

Advanced Fiber-Based Silicon Anode Designed for Performance and Scalability

Cameron Peebles, PhD, Battery Technical Manager, Alkegen

In this talk, Alkegen will report on two things: 1) the rapid progression in material scaling and US-based manufacturing of SiFAB silicon anode materials in New Carlisle, IN, and 2) cell performance of the manufactured SiFAB silicon anode material with respect to rate capability, fast charge, swelling, and cycle life.

4:30 pm

Automated Leak & Integrity Testing of Batteries

Thomas Schwoerer, President, ZELTWANGER Leak Testing & Automation

Giga factories require highly effective leak tests for cell packs and trays to catch up with China. This presentation shows solutions to advance the throughput of modern factories and fundamental principles of testing. Newest principles accelerate the high volume production and ensure batteries are safe and leak-proof. This presentation illustrates the physical principles and their practical application in machinery to build modern Li-ion batteries.

4:50 pm

Integrated Traceability and Quality Concept in Battery Cell Production and Implications for the U.S. Market

Bill Kephart, Associate Partner, P3 USA Inc

Along with the increasing demand, announcements of the global battery supply outline lithium-ion battery production capacities of over 6 TWh in 2030. Many cell manufacturers struggle with major obstacles while striving to achieve their announced production capacities. Especially quality losses during the initial years of operations significantly impact the business plan. The major challenge for the cell manufacturers and equipment suppliers is to identify these potential quality threats and mitigate the risks. An integrated quality and traceability system to measure quality KPI’s and consider them for product and production optimization is key to a successful production ramp-up.

5:10 pm ​How in-line high-resolution ultrasound boosts yield, shrinks inventory, accelerates ramp-up and saves CAPEX.

Julian Bourne, VP of Sales and Business Development, Titan Advanced Energy Solutions

Imagine being able to see morphologically within a cell.  You'd be able to identify the tiniest imperfections that lead to voltage drop, elevated resistance, low capacity or accelerated aging. What if you could more precisely predict the cell's capacity without cycling? Learn how ultrasound is a transformational approach to gigafactory operations, planning and scaling.

5:30 pm MODERATED Q&A:

Session Wrap-Up

PANEL MODERATOR:

Ken Hoffman, Senior Expert, EV Battery Value Chain, McKinsey & Co.

PANELISTS:

Cameron Peebles, PhD, Battery Technical Manager, Alkegen

Thomas Schwoerer, President, ZELTWANGER Leak Testing & Automation

Bill Kephart, Associate Partner, P3 USA Inc

Julian Bourne, VP of Sales and Business Development, Titan Advanced Energy Solutions

Close of Day5:50 pm

Thursday, December 14

Registration and Morning Coffee8:30 am

Organizer's Remarks9:00 am

Craig Wohlers, Executive Director, Conferences, Cambridge EnerTech

INNOVATION IN MANUFACTURING PRODUCTION

9:25 am

Chairperson's Remarks

Cameron Peebles, PhD, Battery Technical Manager, Alkegen

9:30 am

Preparation for the Near-Future: Market & Technical Planning of the Asian xEV LIB Manufacturers

Mark H. L. Lu, PhD, Senior Industrial Analyst, Industrial Economics & Knowledge Center, Industrial Technology Research Institute

This presentation will provide an overview of the above cell-makers’ planning, especially covering both the technical comparison, market, and product segmentation to show the future development in Asian xEV LIB Manufacturers.

9:50 am

Unleashing the Potential of Smart Gigafactories

Katharina Gerber, PhD, Account Development for Battery Vertical, Siemens Digital Industries Software

A dive into the realm of Smart Gigafactories, where the convergence of cutting-edge technologies sets the stage for a battery production revolution. Presentation will explore the transformative power of Digital Twins, granting an unprecedented insight and control over manufacturing processes. The speaker will demonstrate how seamless integration of automation can maximize efficiency and reduce scrap rate.

10:10 am Application of Ultrasonic Testing in Lithium Battery Safety

Yong Xiang, Ph.D, Material Processing Engineering, Professor-Level Senior Engineer, R&D, Tsinghua University

Ultrasonic technology's detection capabilities in the lithium battery cell manufacturing process, such as electrolyte wetting, gas generation, lithium precipitation, SOC and SSOH estimation, and solid-state battery curing degree, have been widely recognized and applied.Furthermore, it offers an effective method for evaluating the quality of tab and tab-to-terminal welding in module and pack assembly processes.

10:30 am MODERATED Q&A:

Session Wrap-Up

PANEL MODERATOR:

Cameron Peebles, PhD, Battery Technical Manager, Alkegen

PANELISTS:

Mark H. L. Lu, PhD, Senior Industrial Analyst, Industrial Economics & Knowledge Center, Industrial Technology Research Institute

Katharina Gerber, PhD, Account Development for Battery Vertical, Siemens Digital Industries Software

Yong Xiang, Ph.D, Material Processing Engineering, Professor-Level Senior Engineer, R&D, Tsinghua University

Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing10:45 am

11:50 am

Basic Characterization of Inductive and Conductive Electrode Drying for Lithium-ion Battery Production

Tobias Krueger, Research Associate, Technical University of Braunschweig

This study focuses on the development and prototypical implementation of two new drying processes based on electromagnetic induction and conductive heating. Inductive and conductive drying experiments were carried out on lithium-ion battery electrodes, which were subsequently characterized regarding their mechanical and electrical properties. Based on the results, the transferability of the already known influence of the convective heating process on the properties of the electrodes to the inductive and conductive heating processes is evaluated.

12:10 pm

Automated Quality Control of Ultrasonically Welded Cell Foil Tab Using Eddy Current

Anthony Krause, NDT Engineer, InspecTech

Eddy current is shown to be a feasible non-destructive testing technique for automated quality control of cell foil tabs that have been ultrasonically welded. The technique identifies over-welding, under-welding, missing foils, and lack of fusion.

INNOVATION IN SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT FOR MANUFACTURING

12:30 pm

Software-Defined Imaging: AI Visual Inspection for Improved Quality & Yield

Keven Wang, Co-Founder & CEO, UnitX

80% of the challenge in machine vision is lighting. A good lighting, when coupled with state-of-the-art AI software, solves visual inspection with low false acceptance and false rejection. This talk covers the advances in lighting and unique approaches to imaging.

12:50 pm MODERATED Q&A:

Session Wrap-Up

PANEL MODERATOR:

Cameron Peebles, PhD, Battery Technical Manager, Alkegen

PANELISTS:

Tobias Krueger, Research Associate, Technical University of Braunschweig

Anthony Krause, NDT Engineer, InspecTech

Keven Wang, Co-Founder & CEO, UnitX

Networking Lunch (Sponsorship Opportunity Available)1:05 pm

Dessert Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing — Last Chance for Viewing (Sponsorship Opportunity Available)2:00 pm

INNOVATION IN MANUFACTURING PRODUCTION

2:30 pm

Chairperson's Remarks

Keven Wang, Co-Founder & CEO, UnitX

2:35 pm

Enhanced Li-Ion Battery Performance Through Commercially Viable High Performance Carbon Nanotubes

Michael Fetcenko, Executive Chairman, CHASM Advanced Materials

The potential technical advantages of carbon nanotubes for many applications have been recognized, including for battery applications. Commercial application has been hindered by the practical obstacles of manufacturing process scaling at viable cost. CHASM’s unique approach to producing CNT materials will be presented, along with performance results and production status.

OVERCOMING THE PITFALLS TO GIGAFACTORY CONSTRUCTION

2:55 pm

Battery Gigafactory Construction, Planning, and Execution Success Factors

Matt Oswalt, EV Battery Expert, McKinsey & Company

The rapidly growing EV market has incited an equally accelerated need for the construction of battery gigafactories, which are critical components in closing the supply-demand gap for energy storage. Building these gigafactories demands careful planning, almost flawless execution, and a deep understanding of the construction landscape, material and equipment supply chains, and team culture.

3:15 pm MODERATED Q&A:

Session Wrap-Up

PANEL MODERATOR:

Keven Wang, Co-Founder & CEO, UnitX

PANELISTS:

Michael Fetcenko, Executive Chairman, CHASM Advanced Materials

Matt Oswalt, EV Battery Expert, McKinsey & Company

Networking Refreshment Break3:50 pm

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, INCENTIVES & POLICIES FOR MANUFACTURING GROWTH

4:00 pm

Battery Industry Clusters: How Policies, Incentives, and Workforce Guide Where We Grow

Nathaniel Dick, Business Development Manager, Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina EDPNC

A deeper dive from the state-level perspective of the new policies built to encourage industry growth as well as an introduction to the incentives and workforce training programs commonly used to attract and grow the battery industry.

4:20 pm

Digital Twins for Efficient Training of Engineers and Operators in Battery Manufacturing

Alejandro A. Franco, PhD, Professor, Reactivity & Chemistry of Solids Lab, University of Picardie Jules Verne

The manufacturing process of lithium-ion batteries is a complex procedure that encompasses multiple steps and various parameters. It is crucial to develop tools that can facilitate the preparation of future gigafactory workers for this intricate task. In this presentation, I will introduce a series of innovative virtual reality digital twins that have been developed in my research group. These digital twins give the promise to revolutionize the effective teaching of battery concepts and the efficient training of battery scientists, engineers, and operators.

4:40 pm MODERATED Q&A:

Session Wrap-Up

PANEL MODERATOR:

Keven Wang, Co-Founder & CEO, UnitX

PANELISTS:

Nathaniel Dick, Business Development Manager, Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina EDPNC

Alejandro A. Franco, PhD, Professor, Reactivity & Chemistry of Solids Lab, University of Picardie Jules Verne

Close of Conference4:55 pm






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