Doosan Group Chairman Park Jeong-won. (Photo: Doosan Group)

Doosan is venturing into the business of copper foil, a key component of the electric vehicle battery. The group plans to build an EV battery copper foil plant in Hungary. The move is designed to tap the European EV parts market to brace for the popularization of EVs.
Doosan Corp. the holding company of Doosan Group, on July 1 announced a plan to build a copper foil plant capable of producing 50,000 tons annually on a lot covering 140,000 sq. meters at the Tatabanya Industrial Complex in Hungary. If construction is completed by next second half, it will produce copper foil products enough to supply 220,000 EVs.
Doosan Group operates a business group supplying copper clad laminates (CCLs) to consumer companies. The group is striving to expand business portfolios with a focus on electronics components to automotive materials. To this end, Doosan acquired Circuit Foil Luxembourg, a maker of electrodeposited circuit foils.
The demand for EV batteries is growing fast thanks to global policy trends of promoting EVs, citing environmental issues, and it is possible for Doosan, coasting copper foil technology power and business experiences in Europe, to establish an early mass production regime, a group official said.
Doosan reviewed several districts in Eastern Europe and opted for Hungary as the site of the copper foil plant in consideration of location and economic feasibility. The Hungarian plant is expected to serve as a platform to enter the European market with global automakers. Volkswagen and BMW of Germany and well as Volvo produces EVs.
Doosan’s cooper foil plant has good proximity to Korean EV battery plants in Hungary. Samsung SDI’s plant in Hungary began to produce EV batteries in April. SK Innovation’s EV plant in the Eastern European country, capable of supplying batteries to meet 50,000 EV units annually, is to be dedicated next second half.
Doosan Chmn. Park Continues Push for Local Operations Enhancement
Doosan announced on June 24 that it participated in the Automatica 2018 held in Munich, Germany, from June 19 to 22.
The biennial Automatica is Europe’s largest trade fair for smart automation and robotics, featuring the world’s latest technologies and products, including industrial and service robots, automation solutions and process innovation. Hosting an event in which 902 companies from 30 countries participated, including Doosan Robotics, the organizer touted this year’s event as “an innovative platform that serves as a guide for digital transformation.”
Chairman Park Jeong-won of Doosan Group, looked around the exhibition venue to keep up with the leading trends of robotics and manufacturing automation technology and to assess global market conditions in order to foster digital innovation. During the tour of the exhibition Chairman Park was accompanied by a management team, including Hyunsoon Lee, vice chairman and chief technology officer (CTO), Hyungsoo Dong, vice chairman, and Byungseo Lee, senior vice president and CEO of Doosan Robotics.
Chairman Park visited every booth of the world’s leading robotics manufacturers to examine the technology and design of the products of the leading companies. He also talked with management officials from other overseas firms and dealers to assess the market, and spent a long time in a booth that simulated a smart factory setting, displaying his keen interest in the area.
“Doosan has been consistently implementing multiple Industry 4.0-related initiatives which include our robotics business, and it is high time to step up our efforts,” said Chairman Park. “To this end, we need to have our eyes and ears open to the latest technology and digital trends that take place in the industry as we pursue new business opportunities.”