Cooperation with Japanese coating specialist Techno Smart

Press Release Sep 4, 2020

Cooperation with Japanese coating specialist Techno Smart

Bietigheim-Bissingen, September 4, 2020 – Lithium-ion batteries are a key technology in electromobility. In order to keep up with the growing demand for e-cars, investments are being made in battery factories worldwide. Dürr is positioning itself in this growth market as a supplier of production technology and is expanding its market access to battery manufacturers through a cooperation with Techno Smart, a leading Japanese manufacturer of coating systems. Thus, the Group covers all relevant technologies for coating electrodes for lithium-ion batteries.

Ralf W. Dieter, CEO of Dürr AG: “With Techno Smart as our cooperation partner, we want to secure a larger share of this future-oriented market.” The Japanese company’s coating systems are in high demand among battery manufacturers for electric cars. That is why Dürr is now bringing the coating specialist’s technology on board.

Dr. Jochen Weyrauch, Deputy CEO and responsible for the automotive business on the Board of Management: “This improves our marketing prospects and provides us with a convincing all-round package for major projects in the automotive sector.”

Portfolio expanded to include solutions for the automotive sector

Producers of batteries for electric cars will receive complete packages from a single source at Dürr in the future: state of the art technology for coating and drying electrodes as well as proven systems for solvent recovery. In the medium term, the Group is aiming for a sales volume in the high double-digit million range in the battery manufacturing technology business.

With the acquisition of the US company Megtec/Universal in 2018, Dürr expanded its portfolio by adding important competencies in battery manufacturing technology. With its coating, drying and solvent recovery systems, Dürr Megtec offers solutions for three essential steps in the production of lithium-ion batteries. Dürr Megtec is part of the Clean Technology Systems division.

Battery manufacturing technology offers attractive growth potential for the Clean Technology Systems division. With its simultaneous two-sided coating solution for battery electrodes, Dürr has so far been successful mainly in niche segments. For example, the mechanical and plant engineering firm is benefiting from the growing demand for small-format lithium-ion batteries for hearing aids, headphones and other mobile electrical devices. In the first half of 2020, a major contract was received from a battery manufacturer in Germany, among others.

Broad spectrum for e-car production

However, the biggest growth driver in the market for battery manufacturing technology is electromobility. In general, the Dürr Group sees this business field as a great opportunity. In battery manufacturing technology, the portfolio includes not only solutions for coating but also gluing technology for battery modules and coolant filling systems for batteries. Moreover, Dürr is supplying painting, final assembly and testing systems for electric cars. With an order intake of just under € 400 million, production technology for electric cars already accounted for 22% of the order volume in the automotive business last year. For 2020, the growth trend is continuing, particularly thanks to strong demand in China. Despite the corona crisis, Dürr was able to significantly increase incoming orders in the e-mobility business in the first half of the year.

About Techno Smart

Techno Smart has been building coating systems for a wide range of applications since the 1960s. The coating specialist launched solutions for coating lithium-ion battery cells from early 1990s and has already supplied its high-precision technology to major battery manufacturers in the Asian market. In 2019, the Japanese plant engineering company with around 250 employees achieved a turnover of €130 million.

Press photos

Ralf W. Dieter portrait — **Ralf W. Dieter**
Chairman of the Management Board

Dr. Jochen Weyrauch portrait — **Dr. Jochen Weyrauch**
Deputy CEO of Dürr AG

Electrode coating — Producers of batteries for electric cars will receive complete packages from a single source at Dürr in the future: state of the art technology for coating and drying electrodes as well as proven systems for solvent recovery.

About Dürr

The Dürr Group is one of the world's leading mechanical and plant engineering firms with extensive expertise in automation and digitalization/Industry 4.0. Its products, systems and services enable highly efficient manufacturing processes in different industries. The Dürr Group supplies sectors like the automotive industry, mechanical engineering, chemical, pharmaceutical and woodworking industries. It generated sales of € 3.92 billion in 2019. The company has around 16,300 employees and 112 business locations in 34 countries. The Group operates in the market with the brands Dürr, Schenck and HOMAG and with five divisions:

Paint and Final Assembly Systems: paint shops as well as final assembly, testing and filling technology for the automotive industry
Application Technology: robot technologies for the automated application of paint, sealants and adhesives
Clean Technology Systems: air pollution control, noise abatement systems and coating systems for battery electrodes
Measuring and Process Systems: balancing equipment and diagnostic technology
Woodworking Machinery and Systems: machinery and equipment for the woodworking industry

Disclaimer

This publication has been prepared independently by Dürr AG/Dürr group. It may contain statements which address such key issues as strategy, future financial results, events, competitive positions and product developments. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, but not limited to those described in disclosures of Dürr AG, in particular in the chapter “Risks” in the annual report of Dürr AG. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties and other factors materialize, or should underlying expectations not occur or assumptions prove incorrect, actual results, performances or achievements of the Dürr group may vary materially from those described in the relevant forward-looking statements. These statements may be identified by words such as “expect,” “want,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate,” “will,” “project” or words of similar meaning. Dürr AG neither intends, nor assumes any obligation, to update or revise its forward-looking statements regularly in light of developments which differ from those anticipated. Stated competitive positions are based on management estimates supported by information provided by specialized external agencies.

Our financial reports, presentations, press releases and ad-hoc releases may include alternative financial metrics. These metrics are not defined in the IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards). Net assets, financial position and results of operations of the Dürr group should not be assessed solely on the basis of these alternative financial metrics. Under no circumstances do they replace the performance indicators presented in the consolidated financial statements and calculated in accordance with the IFRS. The calculation of alternative financial metrics may vary from company to company despite the use of the same terminology. Further information regarding the alternative financial metrics used at Dürr AG can be found in our → financial glossary on the web page.