Yokogawa Launches Lightweight, Energy-Efficient OpreX Battery Web Meter ES-5 for Producing Battery Electrode Sheets

Yokogawa Electric Company OpreX announced the development of the Battery Web Gauge ES-5 and will launch this online sheet thickness gauge in January 2025 as part of the OpreX Quality Control System family.

Development history

Since introducing the first online thickness gauge for sheet metal fabrication equipment in 1962, Yokogawa has built a strong track record in this market by continually developing and introducing new versions of these products, which are used to continuously measure and control the thickness, weight, color and other properties of sheet materials such as paper and film in the final processes of production lines. These products include the WEBFREX3ES, which was developed for use in the production of electrode sheets for lithium-ion and other types of batteries and has been widely adopted by major battery manufacturers around the world.


With the global shift towards the use of electric vehicles, the demand for rechargeable batteries is increasing rapidly. At the same time, battery manufacturers are increasingly required to reduce CO2 emissions from their production processes and increase productivity in an increasingly competitive price market.
The OpreX Battery Web Gauge ES-5 was developed to meet these needs while maintaining all the features found in the WEBFREX3ES.

Main features

1. Energy efficiency
The box-type frame adopted for use in OpreX Battery Web Gauge ES-5 reduces power consumption by more than 50%, weighs 75% less, and reduces air consumption volume by 90% compared to WEBFREX3ES. This reduces CO2 emissions in the battery production line and supply chain.



2. General optimization
The OpreX Battery Web Gauge ES-5 uses the OpreX Collaborative Information Server as its central information management platform. This platform collects data from plant equipment and systems used in many different environmental processes to ensure even coating is applied to the electrode sheets, a key determinant of rechargeable battery performance and quality. This increases production efficiency by linking these environmental processes and enables the transition from optimization of individual processes to optimization of the production line as a whole.



3. Safe and secure quality monitoring
Like the WEBFREX3ES, the OpreX Battery Web Gauge ES-5 features a safety design that minimizes exposure to copper and other metal dust, eliminating the risk of fire in rechargeable batteries.

It features an industry-leading 3-second scan speed for a scan width of 1,500 mm, achieves high-density measurement of up to 1,600 points across, and has a minimum slit width resolution of 5 mm, enabling even more rigorous quality control. Thanks to the new sensor design and the use of a box-type frame with a safety cover over the sensor moving parts, the risk of contact during operations and maintenance is reduced, and the radiation-controlled area is less than half that of the WEBFREX3ES for greater safety in operations and maintenance.


“Given the drive toward electric vehicles, we developed this online thickness gauge for battery electrode sheets using the Collaborative Information Server as the system platform,” said Hiroshi Tanoguchi, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Yokogawa Electric and Head of Yokogawa Products Headquarters. “The development was based on a system-of-systems approach, where independently operated and managed systems come together to form a larger system, resulting in a product that saves energy and improves quality, health, safety, and environment (QHSE) for our customers. By offering such solutions, Yokogawa helps its customers increase profitability and achieve ESG management goals.”

Applications

Online measurement of coating thicknesses in production lines of products such as battery electrodes and multilayer ceramic capacitors.

Go to Yokogawa website



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