July 12, 2024: South Korean lithium battery giant SK On this week announced it had signed a joint development agreement with Sakuu, a Silicon Valley provider of commercial-scale equipment for the battery manufacturing industry.

“This partnership marks a significant milestone in the continuous efforts of Sakuu and SK On to advance next generation battery manufacturing innovation by addressing current industry challenges, whilst enabling next-generation solutions for tomorrow,” said the two firms.

Central to the agreement is the industrialization of Sakuu’s dry process Kavian platform.

“Our dry-process manufacturing and the printing of electrodes eliminates the use of solvents and enables the use of new processes in battery manufacturing that will enable cost-effective, higher performance batteries that are also environmentally-friendly,” says the firm.

“[Achievements] include the first fully functional printed lithium-metal battery, the first printed and patterned lithium-metal anode, and the first printed lithium-metal battery in a custom form factor.”

In the US, SK On operates two EV battery plants in Commerce, Georgia, and is constructing additional EV battery plants through joint ventures with Ford Motor Co. and Hyundai Motor Group.

Rhee Jang-weon, chief technology officer of SK On, said: “We look forward to working closely with Sakuu to accelerate innovations in the manufacturing processes for EV battery electrodes.”