February 7, 2025

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Southfield

MI

United States

Dürr Systems AG and LiCAP Technologies Inc. are working together to revolutionize the production of battery cells, traditionally reliant on wet coating, with the sustainable Activated Dry Electrode® technology. The partnership now includes the Cellforce Group GmbH, marking the next step in the development of dry electrode coating.

Dürr had announced its partnership with U.S. coating expert LiCAP Technologies last year, alongside the acquisition of the French mechanical engineering company Ingecal. This move highlighted Dürr’s goal to offer dry electrode coating solutions in addition to the established wet coating process.

The expanded collaboration with Cellforce, a subsidiary of sports car manufacturer Porsche, focuses on integrating LiCAP's patented Activated Dry Electrode® technology into Cellforce’s battery production line. Combined with Dürr's expertise in electrode coating, this marks a significant step toward an innovative overall approach to industrial-scale dry electrode coating.

LiCAP's Activated Dry Electrode® technology is pivotal, improving battery performance while minimizing environmental impact. By eliminating toxic solvents and energy-intensive drying ovens, it significantly reduces energy consumption, shortens process times, and CO₂ emissions by roughly one ton per 10 kilowatt hours of electrode capacity produced.

Cellforce recently licensed LiCAP's Activated Dry Electrode® technology, marking an important milestone in the potential scaling up this revolutionary process. Dürr has already commissioned a gigawatt-scale proof-of-concept cathode line in Chassieu, France. "By collaborating with LiCAP, Dürr is broadening its dry coating solutions to support customers like Cellforce in adopting this innovative dry electrode production process," said Bernhard Bruhn, Vice President Global Business LIB.

About Dürr

The Dürr Group has been established in the United States since 1970 and currently employs approximately 1,400 people. From the Campus with a state-of-art validation, testing, and training center in Southfield, MI, Dürr USA represents four of the five divisions. Paint and Final Assembly Systems offers equipment for painting and assembly processes, while Application Technology provides paint, sealants and adhesives application systems. Dürr’s Clean Technology Systems division is leading in air pollution control, noise abatement systems, and battery electrode coating lines. Dürr has three locations in the US: Dürr Systems, Inc. in Southfield, MI, and De Pere, WI; Durr Universal, Inc. in Stoughton, WI. The subsidiary Schenck USA Corp., with headquarters in Deer Park, NY, and additional locations in Hudson, MA, and Southfield, MI, offers balancing machines, vibration and condition monitoring systems, spin testing and services for the aerospace, automotive and general industry. The customers of Dürr USA include automotive and commercial vehicle manufacturers, as well as their suppliers, and a diverse group of other industries like the chemical or wood industry. HOMAG Machinery North America operates the production facilities for HOMAG Group in Grand Rapids, MI, which is also the base for the sales and service company Stiles Machinery Inc. The HOMAG Group produces machinery and equipment for the woodworking industry.

The Dürr Group is one of the world's leading mechanical and plant engineering firms with particular expertise in the technology fields of automation, digitalization, and energy efficiency. Its products, systems, and services enable highly efficient and sustainable manufacturing processes – mainly in the automotive industry and for producers of furniture and timber houses, but also in sectors such as the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, medical devices, electrical engineering, and battery production. In 2023, the company generated sales of €4.6 billion. The Dürr Group has around 20,000 employees and 141 business locations in 33 countries. As of January 1, 2025, the former divisions Paint and Final Assembly Systems and Application Technology were merged to form the new Automotive division. Since then, the Dürr Group has been operating in the market with four divisions:

• Automotive: painting technology, final assembly, testing and filling technology
• Industrial Automation: automated assembly and test systems for automotive components, medical devices, and consumer goods as well as balancing technology solutions and coating systems for battery electrodes
• Woodworking: machinery and equipment for the woodworking industry
• Clean Technology Systems Environmental: air pollution control and noise abatement systems