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ASIA ELECTRONICS INDUSTRYYOUR WINDOW TO SMART MANUFACTURING

Emerson Partners With Korea's Largest Battery Recycler

Global automation technology and software leader and Korea’s SungEel HiTech Co., Ltd. has chosen Emerson as its automation partner. Particularly, the American company will provide advanced automation solutions to SungEel HiTech in its sustainable production and operational efficiency.

As a specialist in lithium-ion battery recycling, SungEel has three plants inside its Hydro Center complex in Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do.

The partnership will see the fusion of Emerson’s process automation technology and SungEel HiTech’s unique battery recycling methods. Thus, establishing a robust resource cycle that will help enable a more stable supply of battery materials for electric vehicles.

Mike Train, Emerson’s chief sustainability officer, said, “Our automation portfolio and expertise are empowering our customers to optimize and scale the circular economy for critical battery components. (This is) a key step toward meeting global net-zero targets head-on.”

Emerson and SungEel HiTech signed a memorandum of understanding for the construction of the Korean battery recycler’s third Hydro Center plant at a ceremony held in Seoul at the InterBattery 2023 conference. Left to right are SungEel HiTech Chief Executive Officer Yi Kang-Myung, Emerson Chief Sustainability Officer Mike Train and Emerson’s Vice President & General Manager North Asia ChenFai Chung. (Image Credit: Emerson)

Significance of Automation

SungEel HiTech operates a comprehensive battery recycling ecosystem across nine global locations. Among them, are a recycling park for collection and pretreatment and a hydrometallurgical battery material production facility at the Gunsan Hydro Center.

Meanwhile, the upcoming third Hydro Center plant will triple the size of the first two. Thus, contributing to increased production capacity that can supply raw materials for approximately 400,000 electric vehicles each year.

“As the battery recycling market continues to grow, the significance of automation solutions to improve productivity and process efficiency is increasingly apparent,” said ChenFai Chung, vice president and general manager for Emerson in North Asia. “We are proud to work with an innovative leader like SungEel HiTech to contribute to the advancement of battery recycling technology.”

Furthermore, Emerson will supply advanced instrumentation and valve solutions that provide high levels of performance, accuracy, and reliability. These characteristics are essential for the advanced proprietary hydrometallurgical processes that SungEel HiTech uses.

Moreover, the package will include a variety of flow, level, pressure, and pH sensors and transmitters, as well as robust control valves critical to safe and reliable operations.