JAPAN. Yokogawa’s new OpreX Battery Web Gauge ES-5 reduces emissions and improves productivity in production of battery electrode sheets

Measurement and control specialist Yokogawa Electric will release a new online sheet thickness gauge—the OpreX Battery Web Gauge ES-5—as part of the OpreX Quality Control System family, in January 2025.

Since the release of its first online thickness gauge for sheet manufacturing equipment in 1962, Yokogawa has been delivering ever-newer versions of these products, which are used in final processes on production lines to continuously measure and control thickness, weight and other characteristics of sheet materials such as paper and film. Among these products is the WEBFREX3ES, which was developed for use in the production of electrode sheets for lithium-ion and other battery types, is used by major battery manufacturers.

The OpreX Battery Web Gauge ES-5 was developed to help battery manufacturers reduce CO2 emissions from their production processes and improve productivity, while retaining all the features found in the WEBFREX3ES. The box-type frame used in the new ES-5 reduces power consumption by over 50%, weighs 75% less, and reduces air consumption volume by 90% in comparison to the WEBFREX3ES.

The ES-5 features a 3-second scanning speed for the 1,500 mm scan width, achieves high-density measurement of up to 1,600 points widthwise, and has a minimum 5 mm slit width resolution.

The ES-5 is used with the OpreX Collaborative Information Server, which collects data from plant equipment and systems to ensure that an even coating is applied to electrode sheets—an important determinant of battery performance and quality.

“Given the movement towards electric vehicles, we have developed this online thickness gauge for battery electrode sheets that uses the Collaborative Information Server as its system platform,” said Yokogawa Electric VP Hiroshi Tanoguchi. “Development was undertaken based on the system-of-systems approach,a in which a collection of independently operated and managed systems connect to form a larger system, and the result is a product that saves energy and enhances quality, health, safety and environment.”