According to Meech International, this challenge spans the entire development cycle - from lab test lines and prototype cells to full-scale gigafactory production. In the current climate of plateauing EV demand and rising costs caused by global tariffs, improving yield is more critical than ever.
Research from Meech has identified sixteen places in battery production where contamination can hit yields. Ian Atkinson, sales director at Meech, will be addressing this topic next week at E-Tech Europe 2025 (Italy, 15-16 April) where he will outline how battery manufacturers can enhance yields by opting to proactively manage contamination and static from the outset.
“Many facilities operate under the assumption that materials arrive clean and ready for processing, but contamination can be introduced at every stage - through manual handling, slitting, storage or even during inter-facility transit” said Ian Atkinson. “Even in cleanrooms, seemingly minor factors can lead to major end-user consequences.”
Meech has identified multiple points across battery cell production where contaminants, including fine particulates and residues, can compromise electrode integrity and cause latent structural defects. These issues are often missed in early-stage quality control but become much costlier when scaled.
Yield losses of 40 percent or more are not uncommon in newer technologies, but Meech’s experience shows that by implementing contamination control at the right stages, manufacturers can achieve significant improvements of over 10 percent in all battery technologies. In the context of increasing economic pressure, this represents a vital opportunity for producers to claw back efficiency and minimise the impact of external factors, like tariffs.
Rather than offering one-size-fits-all solutions, Meech works closely with battery OEMs and technical institutes to design tailored cleaning systems that integrate static removal and particulate extraction at key production points – from pre-coating cleaning through to post-slitting stages. This helps manufacturers adopt a ‘zero faults forward’ approach and build resilience into their processes.
Attendees at E-Tech Europe 2025 will gain exclusive insight into the most common contamination points in battery production, and how to address them to achieve measurable performance gains.
Ian Atkinson will be speaking at 9.30am on Wednesday, 16 April, at the Bologna Exhibition Centre, Hall 21, Ohm Room. Visit the Meech stand (Hall 21, Stand A35) or attend the session to learn more about Meech’s EV battery production contamination research.
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