Revolutionary battery film location opened in Sulzbach-Rosenberg!

Revolutionary battery film location opened in Sulzbach-Rosenberg!

In the latest development on the energy market, Horizon-Kurz New Material Technology GmbH has initiated a large project for the production of separator films for lithium-ion batteries in Sulzbach-Rosenberg. Managing director Rainer Süßmann emphasizes the immense importance of these films for the energy transition and the future of electric vehicles. The new production line is scheduled to go into operation by the end of 2025 and produce at least 50 million square meters of separator film annually. These films are crucial because around 10 square meters are required per kWh of storage capacity - so a 70 kWh battery requires around 700 square meters of film. Bavarian state newspaper reports that demand is particularly high among European and Asian battery manufacturers.

Lithium-ion batteries are increasingly being manufactured from components that come from East Asia, particularly China. Around 2,000 million square meters of separator films are used in China every year, and this demand continues to grow. With its involvement in Sulzbach-Rosenberg, Horizon-Kurz wants to conquer this market and reduce its dependence on imports.

Technological innovations

Separator film production is not an easy matter. Coperion GmbH, known for its high-quality systems for the industrial series production of microporous separator films, offers innovative processes. These include both wet and dry processes. The wet process in particular, which uses up to 70% oil, requires precise metering equipment from the machines in order to maintain tight quality tolerances. Coperion has already carried out successful tests with various recipes to increase the efficiency and improve the cost-effectiveness of Li-ion batteries. Coperion plays a key role in the development of these technologies.

It is important to you to further optimize production in order to ensure competitiveness in an international market. Through close collaboration with partners from the film industry, they secure their lead and bring high-quality products onto the market.

Sustainability in focus

Horizon-Kurz GmbH's production is supported by an 8.4 hectare solar park with a solar output of 13 megawatts. This means that 25% of the production processes in Upper Palatinate are powered by solar energy. A power-to-heat system with ThermalBattery is also being sought to further reduce emissions. The Bavarian State Newspaper also reports on a newly built solar carport in Fürth, which is equipped with 2,962 450-watt modules and 32 e-mobile charging stations. This initiative aims to optimize the company's own power supply in the company parking lot while protecting the environment.

By integrating renewable energies into production, Horizon-Kurz could show a good hand for the future and at the same time set standards in sustainability.