Mitsubishi Electric
Mitsubishi Electric, a leading provider of contact image sensors (CIS), and Koenig & Bauer, a specialist in industrial print applications and inline machine vision systems for various applications have signed a letter of intent for their future cooperation.
The strategic partnership will combine the strengths of both companies to offer standardised, high quality machine vision components aimed at optimising the production of electrode foil for battery cells.
By combining Mitsubishi Electric’s Line Scan Bar (CIS) as well as Koenig & Bauer’s illumination units and embedded frame grabbers, the partners will create modules that can achieve perfect imaging conditions for electrode foil surfaces, which are challenging to inspect with conventional setups according to the companies.
The modules will enable battery cell manufacturers to improve production efficiency, reduce failure rates, and ensure the safety and reliability of their products. Designed to simplify integration, the joint solution will also be compatible with electrode foils for various battery cell types, such as pouch, cylindrical, or prismatic, and can support different production processes.
Mitsubishi Electric and Koenig & Bauer’s partnership is a response to an anticipated rise in demand for lithium-ion batteries according to Mitsubishi, which it attributes to the increasing popularity of electric vehicles as well as growing requirements in the consumer electronics industry and power grid.
According to calculations by the Boston Consulting Group, the supply of lithium-ion batteries will have to increase tenfold by 2030 to meet the market needs. Machine vision is a technology that can help battery manufacturers achieve this goal by enhancing quality control and automation capabilities while also reducing waste rates, and contributing to sustainability targets and cost reduction says Mitsubishi.
“We are excited to partner with Koenig & Bauer and bring our innovative machine vision solutions to the battery cell production industry in standardised modules, as this will help to simplify integration,” said Martin Messy, Director CIS at Mitsubishi Electric. “We believe that our Line Scan Bar (CIS), combined with Koenig & Bauer’s illumination units, we offer a unique value proposition to our customers and help them overcome the challenges of inspecting electrode foil.”
Julian Schubert, Vice President of Data, Vision and Authentication Solutions at Koenig & Bauer said: “In partnership with Mitsubishi Electric, we are applying our extensive experience in the development and construction of printing machines as well as inline and offline machine vision systems for quality control to this application. We are confident that our high-power illumination units and embedded frame grabbers, combined with Mitsubishi Electric’s Line Bar, will provide optimal imaging conditions for battery cell inspection and enable customers to produce safer and more reliable battery products.”
Line Scan Bars from Mitsubishi Electric are already being used in combination with illumination units from Koenig & Bauer in various markets. The partnership is the next logical step in leveraging synergies and providing value-added solutions for a fast-growing market segment.