ENP Showcases at Large Cylindrical Battery Summit, Discussing New Opportunities in Pre-Nickel-Plated Materials

From 20 to 22 February, the LCB2025 Large Cylindrical Battery Technology and Market Development Summit Forum was successfully held in Wuhan. This forum invited many enterprises and experts from new energy vehicles, battery factories, battery materials and other fields to conduct in-depth discussions on the future development direction of large cylindrical batteries. ENP, in collaboration with their partner WJM, comprehensively demonstrated the pre-nickel-plated steel, a special material for new energy battery shells, in this grand event that brought together industry insiders and experts, and discussed the future development of the industry with industry elites.

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Pre-nickel-plated steel strip is produced by electrochemically depositing a uniform nickel layer on low-carbon steel, followed by heat treatment to form a durable iron-nickel alloy. Upgrading energy storage battery casings to this material will enhance corrosion resistance and thermal stability, improving product lifespan and safety while reducing manufacturing costs and boosting competitiveness.

Pre-nickel-plated steel strips can be formed in a single step using multi-roller pressing or stamping equipment, followed by welding. They offer low processing costs, excellent corrosion resistance, and good weldability.

The use of pre-nickel-plated alloy steel significantly enhances strength, increasing tensile strength from 160–180 MPa (typical of aluminum alloys) to over 500–600 MPa. This meets the structural requirements of high-energy-density batteries and automotive Cell-to-Chassis (CTC) designs.

The battery casing thickness can be reduced from 0.5–1.0 mm (aluminum) to 0.35–0.40 mm when using pre-nickel-plated high-strength or ultra-high-strength alloy steel. Compared to aluminum strips, pre-nickel-plated alloy steel allows for approximately a two-thirds reduction in thickness while maintaining comparable casing weight.

With a melting point of 1600°C (compared to aluminum's 660°C), steel significantly enhances safety by preventing battery short-circuit fires.

Jiangsu Vigorous Metal Technology Co., Ltd. (WJM) is an integrated enterprise specializing in the functional R&D and production of strip and sheet products, dedicated to overcoming critical "bottleneck" technologies in core battery materials.

Currently, WJM's pre-plated nickel products have reached a high level of maturity, with fully mastered processes including raw material selection, electroplating, and heat treatment.

ENP and WJM have joined forces in a powerful collaboration, striving to drive the robust development of pre-nickel-plated steel business and committed to becoming a leading brand with extensive influence in the industry.

At the LCB2025 Large Cylindrical Battery Technology & Market Development Summit, the teams from ENP and WJM actively engaged in open exchanges with industry peers, fostering a dynamic atmosphere. The event not only strengthened existing partnerships but also expanded potential collaboration opportunities.

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