A mixer designed specifically for lithium battery manufacturing
Gebr. Lödige Maschinenbau
This company has developed a specialized version of its Ploughshare mixer (photo) that is designed to address the challenging quality demands required for manufacturers of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). For example, the contamination of LIB cathode masses by foreign ions — in particular iron — must be avoided at all costs. Due to the complex geometry of the specialized mixing elements, the elements, along with the mixing shaft and choppers, are equipped with a thin and wear-resistant ceramic coating. Standard coating materials are based on aluminum oxide or tungsten carbide, but they can be adjusted for a specific application. Because batteries may contain toxic components, such as cobalt, the new Ploughshare mixer is equipped with an application-specific sealing system that avoids uncontrolled spillage of fine powders. The mixers achieve homogeneous mixing of LIB cathode materials in a very short time, which is essential for consistent, reproducible LIB quality, says the company. Hall 6.0, Stand C2 — Gebr. Lödige Maschinenbau GmbH, Paderborn, Germany