ULVAC, Inc. (HQ: Chigasaki, Kanagawa) announced the EWK-030, a roll-to-roll deposition system designed for lithium coating applications, scheduled for launch in May 2025. Ahead of its release, ULVAC will showcase a panel display highlighting the features and applications of this innovative system at Battery Japan (Int’l Rechargeable Battery Expo) be held from February 19 to 21, 2025.
In recent years, next-generation batteries have been widely developed to support the global adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). In 2022, ULVAC was selected for the Green Innovation Fund Projects / Next-Generation Storage Battery and Motor Development (JPNP21026) by NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization) for the development of Lithium Metal Anode Production Technology. This product is one of the outcomes of that project and is expected to be utilized in a wide range of fields, including the development and production of next-generation batteries globally.
The EWK-030 uses the thin-film deposition technology developed by ULVAC over many years for packaging and capacitor films to deposit lithium film onto metal foils in a vacuum environment. Thin-film lithium formed by deposition is processed under vacuum conditions, minimizing impurities and oxidation, resulting in a superior film surface compared to lithium foils formed by conventional roll press (rolling) technology in atmospheric conditions. The EWK-030 is also designed to maximize the efficiency of lithium material usage, offering cost and environmental advantages over standard deposition equipment.
ULVAC will focus on technological development as a ‘Field of Potentiality’ for the future, contributing to the evolution of various applications, including next-generation batteries such as solid-state batteries.
