# Samsung SDI evaluates APS laser notching tools for cell plants *The battery maker picked the former DE&T through its S-NOVA program on Nov. 2, challenging incumbent vendors Phil Energy and Hymson on prismatic manufacturing lines.* **Published:** November 3, 2026 **By:** Seung-min Park **Section:** Batteries & Electric Vehicles — South Korea **Format:** Breaking **Confidence:** high **Source:** https://eastasiabrief.com/batteries-ev/samsung-sdi-evaluates-aps-laser-notching-tools-cell-plants-1101 **Publisher:** East Asia Brief (https://eastasiabrief.com/) --- ## What to know - Samsung SDI evaluates APS Innovation dual-lane laser notchers after late-October S-NOVA review - APS Innovation committed 22.8 billion won to Cheonan plant expansion to support battery tool capacity - Vendor qualification testing runs through Q1 2027 while binding supply contracts remain unsigned ![Workers monitor automated machinery feeding a continuous strip of material through rollers on a battery manufacturing line. (AI-generated image)](https://eastasiabrief.com/media/2026-11-03-f1288317b2bc.webp) *Workers monitor automated machinery feeding a continuous strip of material through rollers on a battery manufacturing line. (AI-generated image)* Samsung SDI began evaluating laser notching machinery from equipment supplier APS Innovation on Nov. 2, 2026. The battery maker aims to lift electrode yields on high-speed lines that assemble prismatic electric vehicle batteries. APS Innovation committed 22.8 billion won ($16.5 million) in June 2026 to expand its equipment manufacturing base in Cheonan. Direct production machinery accounts for 13.6 billion won, roughly 60% of that total project expenditure. Samsung SDI selected APS Innovation in late October through its S-NOVA technology competition. The program opened technical reviews for dual-lane laser cutting tools that process both positive and negative battery plates. Electrode notching forms the critical entry step in battery cell assembly. The machine cuts continuous coated foil rolls into individual electrode tabs, which gather and channel electric current out of the finished cell. Battery manufacturers historically relied on mechanical punch dies to stamp tab shapes. Hardened alloy blades strike the metal strip repeatedly as the coated roll unwinds across the assembly line. Physical punching causes mechanical fatigue and edge distortion along the cut foil. The mechanical shear leaves microscopic burrs, while brittle active materials crack and release fine conductive dust. Conductive metal debris presents severe hazards inside high-voltage electric vehicle packs. Fine particles and sharp burrs can puncture the polymer separator during charging cycles, causing internal micro shorts and thermal runaway. Mechanical cutting dies also impose heavy operating costs on high-volume battery lines. Abrasive cathode coatings dull punch edges quickly, forcing plant operators to halt production every few shifts for maintenance. Laser notching replaces physical punch dies with focused optical beams to vaporize foil margins. The non-contact process lowers foil tension by over 80%, reducing web breakage on high-speed winding and stacking machines. Factory uptime increases by roughly five percentage points when lines switch to lasers. Cell manufacturers eliminate hours of scheduled downtime previously spent aligning, cleaning and replacing worn stamping dies. Applying laser cutting to copper anode collectors proved relatively simple for toolmakers. Copper absorbs conventional infrared laser wavelengths efficiently, allowing clean cuts with minimal thermal distortion along the tab boundary. Cathode plates present steep optical hurdles because aluminum collectors reflect more than 90% of infrared laser light. That high reflection risks scattering beam energy, scorching chemical coatings or damaging sensitive focusing optics. APS Innovation resolved aluminum reflectivity challenges through proprietary laser beam shaping and wavelength control. The company stands as the only South Korean vendor operating cathode laser notchers on commercial lines. The equipment specialist changed its corporate name from DE&T in March 2026. The rebranding marked a strategic pivot from display testing equipment toward high-precision battery production machinery. APS Innovation established its primary revenue base with competitor LG Energy Solution. The supplier secured an 87.4 billion won ($63 million) contract to deliver laser notchers to the L-H Battery Company joint venture. The new units undergoing review at Samsung SDI feature a dual-lane mechanical architecture. The tool processes two independent electrode rolls simultaneously through parallel cutting channels. Dual-lane processing effectively doubles hourly electrode throughput without expanding machinery footprint. That spatial efficiency remains vital as battery makers attempt to lower capital expenditure per gigawatt-hour of installed plant capacity. The prospective procurement threatens incumbent equipment maker Phil Energy. Samsung SDI holds an equity stake of roughly 14% in Phil Energy and relies on the affiliate for advanced stacking and notching systems. The review also pressures China's Shenzhen Hymson Laser Intelligent Equipment, which supplies notching tools to Samsung SDI. Korean cell makers increasingly favor domestic toolmakers to reduce geopolitical exposure across North American gigafactories. Qualification testing at Samsung SDI will continue through the first quarter of 2027, according to industry sources familiar with the program. Line engineers will evaluate cut edge profiles and thermal boundary degradation. Samsung SDI has not published which production facilities will receive the laser notchers, nor has the battery maker disclosed target procurement volumes or contract values. Filings with the Korea Exchange show APS Innovation has not concluded a binding commercial supply contract. ## Impact map | Event | Korea | China | Japan | Global impact | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Laser notching equipment review | APS Innovation challenges Phil Energy for Samsung SDI cell lines after 22.8 billion won Cheonan plant capex | Hymson faces Korean supplier pushback in Samsung SDI prismatic equipment orders | Japanese cell makers maintain mechanical slitting and | | ## In this story - **Companies:** Samsung SDI, APS Innovation - **Tickers:** 006400.KS, 079810.KQ - **Exposed:** LG Energy Solution, Phil Energy, Hymson - **Impact:** Supply Chain, Capex, Order Book ## Primary sources 1. fss.or.kr 2. orangeboard.co.kr 3. thelec.kr 4. samsungsdi.co.kr 5. apsinnovation.com --- Cite as: East Asia Brief, "Samsung SDI evaluates APS laser notching tools for cell plants," November 3, 2026. https://eastasiabrief.com/batteries-ev/samsung-sdi-evaluates-aps-laser-notching-tools-cell-plants-1101