주식회사 금양

Kumyang has a strategic partnership with SMLAB, a cathode material company, to produce cathode materials, the core material of secondary batteries, in "single crystalline" and "dry process". SMLAB, which is the only company in the world that has successfully mass-produced ultra-high nickel (Ni 97%) and (LMR Li&Mn-rich) anode materials by "dry production process", has a unique technology to produce anode materials as single crystallines.

Innovative cathode material technology with Game-Changing Competitive edge

With Ultra high-nickel single crystalline cathode materials for mid-big size battery Aim to achieve 10% of market share in single crystalline cathode material market Annual production target of 42,000 tons

Through a strategic alliance with technical feedback, the partnership aims to expand into the global market

By increasing nickel density to maximize capacity, the partnership will improve battery safety and extend its life cycle.

SMLAB purchases a precursor (Nickel/Cobalt/Manganese) and produces cathode material, which they then supply to battery manufacturers. Kumyang, having established a strategic alliance with SMLAB, supplies 21700 and 4695 batteries using the single crystalline cathode materials to buyers. In doing so, Kumyang completes the value chain for secondary batteries.

Single crystalline cathode material

Achieve 42,000 tons per year of cathode production capacity

· Ultra High-Ni, Co-free Mid-Ni, Co-free LMR, Precursor free ultra high-Ni Manufacturer
· Only one manufacturer in the world to achieve dry production process
· Holding top-tier technology in single crystalline

Capacity

As of June, 2023, SMLAB has a production facility with an annual production capacity of 10,800 tons
From May 2024 to March 2026, we will add a third plant with a capacity of 2,600 tons per month, bringing our total annual production to more than 42,000 tons.

Leading the era of eco-friendly batteries with the world’s best single-crystalline cathode material.

01 Single particle size : 3~5 ㎛
02 High initial capacity (> 220mAh/g with a 4.25V cut-off at 0.2C rate)
03 High-pellet density (no particle collapse under 6 ton/cm)
04 Excellent thermal stability (onset temperature above 220°C)

01 Single particle size : 1~2 ㎛
02 High initial capacity (270mAh/g with a 4.7V cut-off at 0.1C rate)
03 High electrode density (maximum electrode density of 3.3g/cc)
04 Excellent low-temperature performance and minimal voltage drop during cycle
05 High thermal stability (onset temperature above 250°C)

ultra-high nickel (Ni 97%) cathode material

In 2026, securing an annual production capacity of 42,000 tons of cathode.

With the rapidly growing market for electric vehicles, the demand for high-energy and high-density cathode materials is increasing rapidly. Especially for batteries for medium and large-sized electric vehicles, it is necessary to realize high energy density, high stability, and high strength while reducing gas generation and maintaining a long lifetime of the battery.
To do this, SM Labs has developed ultra-high-nickel (nickel content of 95% or more) single-crystalline NCA/NV/NCMA cathode materials. This product is a high-strength material with minimal grain collapse at high density, and at the same time, it is an ultra-high nickel single crystalline cathode material that achieves high energy density. We are securing global competitiveness by securing original technology and establishing mass production technology for single crystalline anode materials with nickel content over 95% for the first time in the industry. In addition, through continuous research and development, we will do our best to satisfy customer needs by developing additive technologies that can replace expensive cobalt and precursor-free manufacturing processes for de-sinicization and reduction of processing costs.

Co-free LMR, Li&Mn-rich

The Co-free LMR single crystalline cathode material developed by SM Labs solves both the low temperature performance degradation problem of the existing LFP and the low electrode density problem of the existing polycrystalline LMR. Our LMR cathode material has secured improved performance at lower temperatures compared to existing LFPs. In addition, by excluding expensive cobalt and including inexpensive manganese, we have secured price competitiveness at the same energy density level as LFPs. We have also increased the electrode density by 20% compared to existing polycrystalline LMRs and minimized the decrease in energy density during the charge and discharge process.

With single-crystalline cathode material, we will accelerate the advent of the eco-friendly battery ear and lead the change

World's first mass production of a dry production process for Ultra high Nickel (Ni > 97%) single crystalline cathode material Innovative technology for single crystalline realization for all cathode material including NCM, NCA, NCMA, LMR, etc.

High-capacity cathode material is used in batteries that require high performance, such as those for electric vehicles, smart mobility, and power tools, to maximize range and operating time.

From the current production capacity of 10,000 tons per year at factories 1 and 2, SMLAB will expand to 42,000 tons per year in 2026 through the construction of the third factory in 2024, and will start mass production of single crystalline cathode materials in 2023 through a strategic partnership with Kumyang. SMLAB supply superior, cost-competitive single crystalline materials that comply with the high-quality standards of Kumyang's 21700 and 4695 batteries, further strengthening the secondary battery value chain in the South-east region in South Korea.