Lead the Charge

High-speed dry coating equipment released

LEAD Intelligent Equipment, a global leader in smart manufacturing for the "new" energy sector, launched its mass-production integrated dry mixing and coating system for lithium battery anodes and cathodes this week. Purpose-built for industrial-scale production, the system introduces a solvent-free, energy-efficient solution designed for clean, high-performance battery manufacturing.

As global battery demand skyrockets and environmental regulations tighten, coating remains a core process in intelligent battery production—one that plays a critical role in overall battery performance. While traditional wet coating methods are widely used, the drying stage alone accounts for over 35% of total energy consumption in cell manufacturing. Additionally, solvent use presents ongoing challenges in terms of toxicity, environmental impact, and high recovery costs.

Amid tightening global regulations, rising carbon tariffs, and the industry's rapid capacity expansion driven by the upcoming 2035 combustion engine ban, dry coating technology is emerging as a key enabler for greener, more economical production. "LEAD's new system is designed to meet this shift head-on," the company said in a July 7 press release e-mailed to EA.

LEAD's dry coating system supports product widths up to 1000mm, with anode production speeds of 80 meters per minute and cathode speeds of 60 meters per minute. It enables multi-format dry electrode production, aligning with the growing needs of both liquid and solid-state battery manufacturing.

The system delivers end-to-end process integration, spanning powder unpacking, metering, fiberization, film formation, current collector lamination, waste recovery, and product quality inspection.

Finally, LEAD says that energy efficiency "is a standout feature of the system," thanks to a series of key innovations:

• The "industry-first" variable-diameter uniform-temperature electric heating system minimizes deformation under load and reduces energy consumption by up to 60% compared to oil-heated systems.

• A three-stage temperature control system for powder fiberization requires only factory cooling water, eliminating the need for external temperature control units and cutting energy use by approximately 50%.

• Independent roller temperature zones help maintain coating precision and roller rigidity, while improving workshop cleanliness and simplifying maintenance.