Mitsubishi Electric and Koenig & Bauer will share technology used in the production of lithium-ion batteries after signing a letter of intent.

The strategic partnership will help produce standardised machine vision components for electrode foil production. By integrating Mitsubishi Electric’s CIS and Koenig & Bauer’s illumination units and embedded frame grabbers, the partners will create various modules that can achieve perfect imaging conditions for electrode foil surfaces, which are currently difficult to inspect.

The modules will help cell manufacturers improve production efficiency and ensure product safety and reliability. They will be compatible with electrode foils for various battery cell types, including pouch, cylindrical or prismatic, and can support different production processes.

The partnership is a response to the anticipated rise in demand for lithium-ion batteries, expected to increase tenfold by 2030. Machine vision is a key technology that can help battery manufacturers achieve this goal by enhancing quality control and automation capabilities while also reducing waste rates, and therefore contributing to sustainability targets and cost reduction.

Koenig & Bauer vice president of data, vision and authentication solutions Julian Schubert said the company was applying “extensive experience” in the development and construction of printing machines as well as inline and offline machine vision systems for quality control. “We are confident that our high power illumination units, our own embedded frame grabbers, integrated with Mitsubishi Electric’s CIS, will provide optimal imaging conditions for battery cell inspection and enable our customers to produce safer and more reliable battery products.”

Pictured (from left): Julian Schubert, Carsten Diederichs (K&B senior manager), Martin Messy (CIS director at Mitsubishi Electric); (top) a module for dual side inspection of electrode foil production for battery cell manufacturing with standard mechanic, electric and data interfaces.