Panasonic turns to Munters to scale up its battery production

When Panasonic was preparing to build a pilot facility in Japan for mass battery production, they were looking for a supplier with a global presence that could be flexible to their needs. They found their match in Munters.

A project with special requirements

Building a battery production facility is no small feat. The air inside the facility must be super dry and clean to ensure optimal product quality.

We are talking about low dew points of –40 to –60 °CDP, or even lower which is equivalent to less than 100 ppm (parts per million) of moisture.

Another challenge was to minimize the energy usage and carbon footprint of the production space. This is a tough project that requires the coordination from the very best.

Panasonic has collaborated with Munters on several projects and knows its dehumidification technology well.

Efficiency and quality are crucial

According to Konishi-san, who heads the Panasonic Environmental Systems & Engineering department in Japan, several things make Munters a preferred supplier.

“The efficiency and quality of their products made them stand out from the rest,” he says.

Munters designs its low dew point dehumidifiers with sustainability in mind. Designs are optimized to meet customer performance while also minimizing energy usage.

A long-term collaborative effort

The company's global presence, along with its flexibility and commitment to meet specific requirements, reinforced Konishi-san’s decision.

“I really enjoy working with their salesperson to discuss and solve our issues," he says. "I appreciated his input and application knowledge.”

Munters has supplied dehumidification units to the facility in Wakayama Prefecture in Japan, which will be up and running in 2024.

Climate change leads to new challenges

“With climate change, the weather conditions in South-East Asia is going to change and become a lot wetter which will put a lot more pressure on our equipment,” Konishi-san says.

“I look forward to seeing how Munters develops its products to tackle the challenge and meet our future needs.”

Facts about lithium-ion battery production:

Lithium-ion battery manufacturing requires controlled low dew point moisture levels and stable, year-round performance to ensure optimal product quality.

Munters dehumidifiers provide high uptime and extreme reliability at dew points of –40 °C to –60 °CDP and even lower. They are designed to maintain the optimal climate with long-lasting performance while reducing energy usage by 30%.