Sakuu, a provider of commercial-scale equipment and technologies to the battery manufacturing industry, is now offering early access to Kavian, the first manufacturing solution to print battery electrodes. (Earlier post.) Early adopters are able to leverage the platform’s equipment, printable materials, electro-chemistry formulations, and process technology to develop the next generation of batteries in a completely dry process.

Sakuu was the first company to license its battery technology for producing lithium metal cells. The company now provides an entire dry electrode printing suite for anodes and cathodes. These building blocks are part of Sakuu’s strategic initiative to strengthen domestic production capabilities in a globally competitive market.

Kavian D-1000

Sixty-six percent of the world’s battery cells currently are manufactured in China, using coal as the primary energy source and toxic slurries to coat electrodes. By printing batteries on Kavian, OEMs can tap into cleaner energy sources while eliminating the need for problematic solvents and drying mechanisms. Sakuu innovations can help companies compete in a battery supply chain expected to reach $410 billion by 2030, according to a report by McKinsey & Company.

Printing batteries on the Kavian platform with dry-process technologies:

• Eliminates all toxic solvents and materials, including NMP and PTFEs;

• Cuts factory floor space requirements up to 33%;

• Reduces utility costs up to 40%; and

• Improves factory carbon footprints up to 40%.

Electrodes printed by Kavian have been shown to achieve equivalent or better performance to today’s 30-year optimized processes with the added opportunity to customize battery cell chemistry, features, and design.

The Kavian platform fits seamlessly into today’s manufacturing lines, affording flexibility for customers to adapt and evolve, with a roadmap for continuous innovation. The platform is engineered to be material-agnostic, supporting each manufacturer’s unique specifications, performance, and form factor needs, enabling OEMs to customize component dimensions and thickness from five to 200 microns.

The Kavian platform is now available for go-to-market development opportunities, with expanded availability in late 2024.