The logistics and digitization package that will drive Lotte Aluminum Materials’ new U.S. plant.

Lotte Aluminum Materials USA LLC and SMS Group have decided to partner in order to set new operational standards through the use of advanced technologies provided by SMS. This alliance enables Lotte to make use of an advanced digitization package to facilitate the production of ultra-thin cathode foils for electric vehicle batteries at its new plant in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USA. With the help of the AMOVA system, which is already being implemented, Lotte plans to produce 36,000 tons of cathode sheet per year to meet growing market demand. The company relies on the digitalization and logistics expertise of the SMS Group to achieve its objectives.

This collaboration will use a combination of digital systems and advanced technology to improve efficiency, quality and customization in the production process from the outset. Some of the technologies to be included are the SMS Group’s DataFactory suite, which collects relevant data from the first product, the Manufacturing Execution Suite (MES), which acts as a master planner and enables automatic execution of the plant’s production process, and finally the Quality Execution Suite (QES), which evaluates quality and certifies the product in real time based on its performance.

The plan includes the joining of six cold rolling mills and four slitting lines acquired through an external supplier. The high-rise storage system supplied by AMOVA, a company belonging to the SMS Group, will also be incorporated into the system.

The storage method used at this location consists of high racks with approximately 500 storage positions. These are connected to different production lines by appropriate conveyor technology, and are equipped with AMOVA-developed software to manage the warehouse.
This logistics strategy is closely linked to the MES system, which facilitates two-way communication about production and storage. In addition, all systems interface seamlessly with third-party equipment and automation to ensure efficient logistics in all areas of the plant.
The SMS Group’s MES system has several important functions, such as the ability to organize production and control logistic processes. Meanwhile, the QES system is responsible for tracking and recording every step of the manufacturing process, from start to final product. In addition, it can be easily integrated with other systems to improve quality-related data. The automatic coil release feature also helps the operational team make quality decisions more efficiently and ensures that each coil has proper quality certification.

The collaboration between Lotte Aluminum Materials USA and SMS Group is one of the major ongoing projects in the aluminum foil industry, representing a breakthrough in combining the expertise of both teams to deliver exceptional quality, increased efficiency and unparalleled customization capabilities.