“The complexity of battery technologies is growing”
Even if the registration figures for electric cars in Germany are currently are weakeningThe global demand for high-performance lithium-ion lithium-ion batteries is growing steadily. In an interview with Industry Insights, Michael Krammer explains why Hosokawa is bundling the technologies for this in a new brand.
Interview with Michael Krammer, Team Manager Sales, Hosokawa Alpine
Natural graphite is rounded with the Alpine Particle Rounder APR.Battery production is an important topic at the moment. How do you see this area at Hosokawa?
Battery production is one of the megatrends for us. We see this as a very, very interesting, complex technology that is developing more and more. At the Hosokawa Group in particular, we are trying to utilise all the possibilities within the Group. The aim is to support customers in an industry that is becoming increasingly complex in terms of technology by providing holistic solutions. With our expertise and our technological interfaces, we are able to find customised solutions.
Can you explain this with an example?
Krammer: At the last POWTECH, we presented a complete system model that covers the relevant steps in battery production: material conveying technology, grinding of materials and sorting. We offer solutions particularly in the area of graphite, for rounding or spheronising natural and synthetic graphite. We also cover other topics such as compacting technology and fines handling, as well as mixers and dryers, which we obtain from our colleagues in Holland. It is also important to manage the risks. Cathode materials are usually toxic and must be handled under containment conditions. We also have solutions for this in our portfolio, which we combine into a coherent overall concept.
How does Hosokawa deal with the special challenges of battery production?
Krammer: One important point is safety – especially in the production of cathode materials. Especially when setting up production lines in Europe or America, the protection of operating personnel plays a very important role. We at Hosokawa take this very seriously. We not only supply grinding or mixing technology, but also package it in safe containment solutions.
Because the importance of the battery and energy industry is growing so strongly, the Hosokawa Micron Group is offering its products under a new brand – the On series for performance materials. We cover the entire range from anode and cathode materials to materials for the separator layer. We also offer solutions for the recycling and handling of these products under Containment.
Has Hosokawa also developed new machines specifically for battery production?
Krammer: Yes, for example our new machine, the AP Alpine Particle Rounder. We developed this specifically for the requirements of natural graphite in order to perfect the rounding and produce high-quality anode materials. It is important that we can also offer the necessary scalability for these materials. The machines in the On series can be recognised by their new design, which we have already applied to the AP Alpine Particle Rounder.
The Alpine Particle Rounder APR improves the storage capacity and fast-charging capability of anode materials.Hosokawa Micron Group bundles activities for battery materials under new brand
Whether electric cars, portable devices or large energy storage systems – battery technologies play an important role in the transition of the energy sector towards renewable energies. End consumers want batteries that can be recharged quickly, have a high energy density and a long service life. This poses challenges for battery manufacturers: They have to develop compact batteries with ever higher performance. In this dynamic environment, the efficiency of manufacturing processes is becoming increasingly important.
The Hosokawa Micron Group is fully committed to this trend and has launched the “On” brand for POWTECH 2023: In future, it will bundle all activities in the field of battery materials under one roof. This is because highly specialised technologies are required in the production of battery materials in order to meet the requirements for batteries in terms of charging time, storage capacity and durability. Under the new brand, Hosokawa offers technologies for the entire production chain of battery materials, from drying and grinding to the rounding of graphite:
- Drying: Hosokawa Micron B.V. offers solutions for drying battery precursors such as nickel, manganese and cobalt oxide.
- Grinding: With the ACM classifier mill and the AFG fluidised bed counter jet mill, Hosokawa Alpine supplies technologies that ensure precise particle size distribution and thus optimise battery performance.
- Graphite rounding: The Alpine Particle Rounder APR improves the storage capacity and fast-charging capability of anode materials.
- Containment solutions: Hosokawa Micron Ltd. develops safety systems to protect employees from toxic materials.
In addition, solutions for the recycling of lithium-ion recycling of lithium-ion batteries are offered – both for used batteries and for production waste.
