Italian facility of European Metals marks milestone with full production of battery foil

The state-of-the-art battery foil finishing mill at European Metals' Volpiano (TO) facility in northern Italy is now in full operation. This achievement, realised two years after the contract was inked in 2022, signifies a significant milestone for the company. By making this strategic and forward-thinking investment, European Metals now stands as Italy’s premier battery foil producer and emerges as a key player in the rapidly expanding European market for battery-related products.

In 2020, European Metals made its mark in the European aluminium industry with ambitions to emerge as a significant player in Europe's thin foil market. To strengthen its position in household foil, packaging foil, and the burgeoning battery foil sector, this strategic move was underpinned by the acquisition of a historic production facility in Volpiano, Turin, Italy. Initially founded in the 1950s by Jiangsu Dingsheng New Materials Joint-stock Co., Ltd., the world's leading aluminium foil and strip producer, European Metals made its mark in the European aluminium industry.

Subsequently, in 2023, European Metals expanded its footprint by incorporating Slim Aluminium into its portfolio. Slim Aluminium, with operations in Cisterna di Latina, Italy, and Merseburg, Germany, brought further growth opportunities to the group.

The battery foil mill is a pivotal component within the broader brownfield project, dedicated to revitalising the former Comital factory site to its former eminence.

Crafted with the objective of swift revival, the mill ingeniously repurposes the existing foundation, minimising the requirement for extensive civil engineering endeavours.

This specialised mill, with a barrel length extending 1500 mm, yields premium aluminium alloy strips, culminating in a sleek 12 µm thickness with a luminous finish tailored to meet the exacting standards of the contemporary battery foil market.

Furthermore, the foil mill's versatility extends to serving the conventional household foil market, effortlessly producing strips as delicate as 2×0.0006 mm. This adaptability not only showcases the mill's versatility but also solidifies DingSheng Aluminium's standing as a formidable global player in the industry, reassuring our clients of our wide-ranging capabilities.

The mill is meticulously crafted with precise specifications to contain fumes and prevent coolant carry-over, which is crucial for achieving the requisite wettability levels of 33 dyn/cm or higher, which are essential for downstream battery processes.

A sophisticated exit blow-off system and a highly efficient fume suction mechanism are integral to the mill's design.

The mill is not just tailored for battery foil applications, it's remarkably versatile. It features two uncoilers and an entry-side trimmer with a dedicated suction system, facilitating online doubling and making it a valuable asset for a variety of applications.

The mill's advanced AVANTI^TM TCS system for AGC/AFC control is a testament to MINO's engineering prowess. Developed in-house by our experienced engineers, it has proven its effectiveness and reliability through successful installations worldwide, ensuring the strip flatness is closely monitored and controlled.

Following MINO's stringent protocols, the machine was meticulously designed in 3D, ensuring seamless integration of modern firefighting systems to enhance safety and optimize maintainability, thus maximizing productivity.

Following a smooth cold and hot commissioning, the mill underwent extensive tuning, culminating in successful battery foil production.

MINO takes great pride in advancing European Metals’ achievements within the industry and solidifying the longstanding partnership with DingSheng Aluminium, which was initiated in 2010. The collaboration commenced in China by implementing a substantial Three Stands Hot Tandem Mill, positioned downstream of a Twin Belt Caster provided by Hazelett.