Global Battery Manufacturing Production

With the Inflation Reduction Act reshaping the US battery landscape, this session will explore what’s next. Topics include: localization strategies, critical mineral sourcing, and how global players are responding to US policy shifts.

Shifting global policies around the world, especially in the US, Europe, and China, are reshaping the future of battery technology, manufacturing, and supply chains. Tariffs, evolving incentives, and shifting political priorities are becoming the center of attention. This session will explore how policy is influencing the adoption and supply of batteries for electric vehicles and stationary storage. It will also highlight strategic approaches manufacturers and suppliers are adopting to remain competitive and aligned with regulatory goals.

Why Asian cell manufacturers maintain a 20-year advantage in manufacturing using conventional methods and why a technological leap is necessary for new entrants to compete. How dry electrode technology enables 30-40% CAPEX reduction and up to 70% OPEX savings compared to conventional solvent-based manufacturing. How this innovative approach removes the need for extensive solvent management systems, gigantic drying ovens, and associated supply chain complexities.​

As the global leader in battery production, China continues to defy expectations, not just through scale but through rapid advancements in battery innovation. In the past year alone, China has made significant progress in the development and commercialisation of solid, semi-solid, and quasi-solid-state battery technologies. These next-generation cells are driving extreme performance improvements, offering higher energy densities, enhanced safety, and potential cost efficiencies.This session will explore the latest breakthroughs, highlighting key companies pioneering these technologies, such as WeLion, Great Power, and SVOLT. Attendees will gain exclusive insights into the first-generation solid-state batteries poised for mass production and how Chinese manufacturers are overcoming critical challenges, from electrolyte stability to production scalability.

In a market with intense cost pressures and rising geopolitical tensions, manufacturers are balancing cost reduction against supply chain de-risking. We will examine how the pragmatic ways they can achieve this, with a focus on the US and the global producers that supply it.

Elon Musk famously said "The best part is no part", meaning that if you can take away a component of a product you decrease complexity and cost in making the product. Mana Battery's CEO, Tyler Evans, is a former Tesla battery engineer, and he has imported that philosophy to Mana and the company is now developing its anode-free sodium ion battery. This presentation will discuss the positive cost and performance ramifications of this design and tie it back to the principle of 'innovation through subtraction'.

Semi-solid batteries are becoming the hottest emerging battery technology in China in 2025, but the production process is very different from that of traditional liquid batteries, which will promote the upgrading and innovation of production equipment in the short term. This presentation will introduce the newest semi-solid battery innovation in China, including the SSB used in the preparation of solid electrolyte membrane, dry mixing and dry coating, stacking, pole piece glue frame printing, isostatic pressing technology, and related upgrading and transforming equipment.

Fraunhofer builds world’s largest research infrastructure for scaling battery production—a unique platform that enables collaboration with industrial partners to accelerate the development and commercialization of battery technologies based on cutting-edge research. Fraunhofer is connecting with pilot initiatives in the U.S. to establish a transatlantic network of pilot line infrastructures ensuring a seamless transfer of innovations into the market, covering a wide range of cell formats, chemistries, and next-generation technologies.

Current battery cells suffer from a big compromise between power delivery and energy capacity (fast charging vs. long range in EVs). This problem comes from century-old slot-die coating technology for electrodes. Slot-die makes amorphous electrodes with intricate (tortuous) paths for the lithium-ions. Dynami invented, patented, and de-risked an electrode manufacturing technology that creates electrodes with self-assembled 3D microstructures that enhance lithium transport and allow faster-charging batteries that simultaneously have higher capacity.

Two component reactive polyurethanes offer broadly tunable material properties with cure kinetics ideally suited for rapid pack assembly. Recent developments will be presented that demonstrate the robust adhesion of polyurethanes to traditionally difficult substrates such as dielectric materials and bare metals. The role of polyurethane adhesives in driving efficient pack assembly will be featured.

Manufacturing 4690 cells involves the use of laser structuring for thick-film electrodes. Those batteries undergo an accelerated electrolyte filling process. Electrolyte rewetting during battery operation is significantly enhanced, contributing to an increased cycle lifetime and prevents lithium plating during fast charging. The R2R pilot line is undergoing further development to enhance process efficiency. It uses advanced, high-power, ultrafast lasers which have been successfully used with various types of electrode materials.

As the battery industry scales to meet global electrification goals, the demand for specialized talent is outpacing supply. This session will explore key workforce trends across the battery value chain—from R&D to gigafactory operations—and highlight the critical roles, skill gaps, and hiring challenges shaping the market. We'll also examine how policy, automation, and globalization are impacting talent strategies, and share actionable insights for companies looking to scale effectively. Whether you're building a team or navigating your next career move, this presentation will provide a data-backed snapshot of where the battery workforce is headed—and how to stay ahead.