PIIE Co., Ltd. (CEO Jeong-il Choi), a company specializing in vision inspection and smart factory solutions, announced on the 12th that it has developed a vision inspection solution applicable to the '46 pi (Ø? diameter 46mm)' cylindrical battery, which is attracting attention as the next-generation battery for electric vehicles.

With this, PI has completed its inspection solution portfolio covering all form factors (types) of medium and large secondary batteries, from square, pouch, 21-pie cylindrical, to the next-generation 46-pie cylindrical.

Vision inspection solutions replace human visual inspection with high-definition images captured at high speeds by cameras, processed by algorithms that automatically identify and classify defects. These solutions are applied to various production lines, including secondary batteries, where high-speed mass production takes place, improving product and process quality and productivity. In particular, they are being utilized throughout the entire manufacturing process, establishing themselves as a means of maximizing the safety of secondary batteries.

A 46-pi battery refers to a cylindrical battery with a diameter of 46 mm. In 2020, Tesla announced a new battery standard, the 4680, measuring 46 mm in diameter and 80 mm in height, becoming a hot topic in the electric vehicle market.

The 4680 battery is a next-generation battery that is 10% cheaper than the existing 1865-2170 batteries used in Tesla's Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and Model X, while offering five times the energy capacity, six times the output, and a 16% increase in driving range. Tesla officially launched the Cybertruck, which uses the 4680 battery, on the 30th of last month (local time). In addition to Tesla, global automakers such as BMW, Lucid, Nikola, and Rivian are also known to be considering applying 4680.

As automakers are expected to expand their adoption of 4680 batteries, major battery cell manufacturers such as Samsung SDI, LG Energy Solution, and Panasonic are also making new investments in 4680 batteries and formalizing pilot production and mass production plans.

“PII has accumulated a lineup of AI-based vision inspection solutions applicable to all form factors and processes of secondary batteries, as well as field experience,” said Choi Jeong-il, CEO of PII. “We will proactively develop solutions applicable to next-generation batteries, such as 4680 and all-solid-state batteries, and lead the market.”

Since 2020, when it began supplying secondary battery inspection solutions in earnest, PII has recorded sales of KRW 28.5 billion last year, showing an average annual growth rate of 150%, and expects sales and operating profit to more than double in 2023 compared to the previous year.

Meanwhile, PII is undergoing preliminary review by the Korea Exchange for listing through a merger with Hana Financial Group's 25th SPAC, and is showing its intention to proceed with the SPAC merger in a market-friendly manner through the recently announced merger value readjustment.