LS Cable & System to supply bus ducts to LG Energy Solution’s U.S. plant

Bus ducts [Courtesy of LS Cable & System]

South Korea’s LS Cable & System Ltd. is set to supply high-capacity power distribution equipment, or ‘bus duct,’ to LG Energy Solution Ltd.’s U.S. factory. The bus duct comprises flat aluminum and copper, which serve as electrical conductors housed within a metal duct, replacing traditional wiring and ensuring stable and efficient power distribution. LS Cable & System intends to leverage this delivery to initiate its expansion into the U.S. power distribution equipment market.

According to industry sources on Sunday, LS Cable & System will begin supplying bus ducts to LG Energy Solution’s Ultium Cells 3 factory in Lansing, Michigan, starting in December 2023. Ultium Cells is a joint venture between LG Energy Solution and General Motors (GM), focused on producing electric vehicle batteries. The Lansing factory is scheduled for completion in the latter half of 2024, with an anticipated investment of 3.4 trillion won ($2.6 billion).

Bus ducts have seen a recent surge in demand as they are more space-efficient and scalable than wires. They also occupy less space while supplying an equivalent amount of power, simplifying installation and maintenance compared to traditional wiring, giving IT infrastructures with high power consumption like data centers traditionally that carry thick bundles of cables for power distribution an advantage. This ease of expansion in power distribution infrastructure is seen as a higher value proposition for manufacturing companies.

According to market tracker Industry Research Biz, the global bus duct market was valued at 13.5 trillion won ($10.3 billion) in 2022 and is projected to reach 22.8 trillion won by 2028.