POSCO Future M rolls out cathode materials in automated plant

POSCO Future M Co.’s smart warehouse [Courtesy of POSCO Future M]

POSCO Future M Co.’s state-of-the-art cathode material factory, located in the Yulchon Industrial Complex in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, showcases manufacturing processes of utmost sensitivity, rivaling that of semiconductor production facilities.

Accompanied by cutting-edge warehouse facilities, the factory operates with minimal human presence, relying on 12 automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and robots within its 20-meter high logistics warehouse.

The cathode material kiln is surrounded by an intricate network of silver pipes, while inside, containers brimming with black cathode material powder are neatly stacked in three rows, each containing four spaces per line. With each container weighing about 5kg per space, a total of 56 to 60kg of cathode materials are produced in 12 containers simultaneously, a meticulous heating process taking up to 20 hours.

Specializing in the production of single crystal cathode materials, POSCO Future M has revolutionized the industry. The company’s single crystal products boast superior resistance to particle cracking, thus offering the significant advantage of prolonging battery lifespan.

As a crucial component accounting for nearly half of the electric vehicle battery production cost, cathode materials are crafted through the fusion of precursors, including nickel sulfate, cobalt sulfate, and manganese sulfate, mixed with lithium hydroxide before undergoing high-temperature heating to attain the desired cathode material.

Within another section of the production plant, robotic arms deftly replace containers with unparalleled efficiency. “The robots undertake the automatic inspection and replacement of 2,000 containers, each undergoing heating to hundreds of degrees,” said Choi Wook, the production manager of POSCO Future M’s cathode material division.

The resulting cathode materials are seamlessly transported in real-time to the quality analysis room for meticulous sample testing. This impressive feat is accomplished through a pipeline equipped with POSCO Future M’s unique ‘air shooting’ technology.

“As we progress through the meticulous steps of firing, grinding, and washing to produce cathode materials, we place the samples in capsules and ‘shoot’ them to the analysis room,” Choi explained. “The capsules move at a speed of 5 meters per second through a 1-kilometer-long pipeline.”