Oktae Kim, CEO, KGA CO., LTD
The battery industry is often measured by chemistry, capacity, and production scale, but the difference between a promising technology and a commercially successful product is often decided much earlier—in the precision engineering behind the production line. As demand for electric vehicles and energy storage systems continues to grow, the battery industry requires increasingly sophisticated manufacturing solutions capable of delivering consistency, efficiency, and quality at scale. Meeting those demands requires more than equipment alone—it requires the integration of process expertise, manufacturing know-how, and advanced production technologies. That is where South Korea’s KGA CO., LTD has carved out its place.
Specializing in secondary battery electrode process equipment, cell assembly systems, and turn-key engineering solutions, the company supports customers at every stage, from R&D and pilot lines to full-scale production facilities. Under the leadership of CEO Oktae Kim, KGA has built its reputation on solving technical challenges with practical engineering, helping battery manufacturers improve productivity while preparing for the next generation of energy storage technologies.
Building a Foundation on Experience and Vision
KGA’s journey is deeply rooted in the extensive industry experience of its leadership team. Founded in 2017, the company was established with a clear mission: to develop world-class engineering solutions capable of supporting the rapidly expanding secondary battery industry. At the heart of that mission is CEO Oktae Kim, whose career spans more than three decades in battery equipment development and manufacturing. Having previously served in key engineering leadership roles, including at Samsung’s Production Technology Center and A-Pro, Kim played a significant role in pioneering electrode coating technologies and advancing localization efforts within Korea’s battery manufacturing sector. Notably, he led the localization of Korea’s first electrode coater and contributed to the development of advanced tandem coating technologies that set new benchmarks for large-scale battery manufacturing.
These experiences laid the groundwork for KGA’s engineering philosophy, one built on precision, customization, and continuous innovation. Today, the company is supported by a team of highly experienced engineers, many of whom possess more than two decades of expertise in equipment design, manufacturing, automation, and process engineering. This collective knowledge has become one of KGA’s most valuable competitive advantages.
Supporting Every Stage of Electrode Production
The electrode manufacturing process remains one of the most critical stages of battery production, influencing everything from performance and safety to manufacturing efficiency. KGA has built its expertise around supporting this process through specialized equipment and engineering solutions that serve customers from R&D and pilot projects to full-scale production facilities. The company offers end-to-end services covering the development, manufacturing, installation, and maintenance of advanced equipment, with a particular focus on secondary battery electrode manufacturing and cell assembly systems. Its expertise includes lithium-ion battery (LIB) manufacturing equipment such as coaters, roll presses, and slitters, along with cell assembly solutions for Prismatic cell and Pourch cell. Recently, KGA has built the capability to supply can cap assembly systems for prismatic cells, which are becoming an increasingly popular form factor due to their safety advantages. KGA also provides equipment inspections, repairs, and on-site supervisory support to help customers maintain reliable operations and maximize production efficiency. Rather than focusing on individual machines, the company delivers integrated solutions tailored to each customer’s production requirements. By combining technical expertise with customized engineering, KGA helps battery manufacturers improve productivity, maintain quality consistency, and meet the demands of an increasingly competitive industry. “In the battery industry, equipment is more than machinery. It is the foundation of product quality and manufacturing competitiveness. Our goal has always been to provide engineering solutions that help customers achieve greater precision, efficiency, and long-term success,” says Kim.
The Science Behind High-Precision Manufacturing
What differentiates KGA from conventional equipment manufacturers is its deep understanding of battery process technology. Its coating systems are designed to deliver exceptional precision by ensuring uniform slurry application and highly controlled drying conditions. These capabilities are essential for achieving consistent electrode quality and maximizing battery performance. The company’s roll press technology further enhances electrode characteristics by applying carefully controlled pressure to improve density, conductivity, and structural stability. Through advanced pressure control systems and specialized roll engineering, KGA enables customers to achieve superior manufacturing consistency. Complementing these technologies are KGA’s high-performance slitting systems. These machines combine precision cutting, tension control, contamination management, and real-time quality monitoring to ensure electrodes meet exact design specifications.
In order to strengthen cost efficiency and performance of the coating system, KGA has developed its Combined Press-Slitter system, which combines two systems in a single structure to process Pressing and Slitting continuously. This could be a leading trend because it has better efficiency and performance to save time, cost, and footprint.
Beyond conventional coating technologies, KGA is actively developing next-generation electrode manufacturing solutions designed to improve productivity, precision, and sustainability. Among its notable innovations is a proprietary Dry Coater, which enables solvent-free electrode manufacturing while reducing energy consumption and production costs. By eliminating the need for large drying ovens and solvent recovery systems, the technology streamlines production processes, reduces factory footprint, and supports more environmentally responsible manufacturing practices. Together, these technologies form an integrated manufacturing solution that supports both current lithium-ion battery production and the emerging battery technologies, reinforcing KGA’s position as a specialist in advanced battery manufacturing equipment.
Delivering Complete Turn-Key Solutions
One of KGA’s defining strengths is its ability to provide comprehensive turn-key solutions. Rather than simply manufacturing equipment, the company manages the entire engineering process from concept development and system design to manufacturing, installation, commissioning, and maintenance. This integrated approach allows customers to work with a single trusted partner throughout the project lifecycle.
KGA’s engineering services include customized equipment development, process design optimization, manufacturing and assembly, duct automation systems, automation integration, equipment inspections and maintenance, technical supervision, and operator training. Beyond electrode and cell manufacturing equipment, the company provides specialized duct engineering and automation solutions that help battery manufacturers maintain efficient, safe, and highly controlled production environments.
Driving Innovation Beyond Conventional Battery Manufacturing
Innovation remains a cornerstone of KGA’s long-term growth strategy. To strengthen its technological leadership, the company established an in-house corporate research institute dedicated to developing next-generation battery manufacturing technologies. These efforts have resulted in a growing portfolio of patents covering coating, pressing, slitting, electrode manufacturing, and battery production systems. “We are continuously strengthening our technological competitiveness through domestic and international certifications in innovation and management systems,” states Kim. “To date, we have registered 40 patents, including 23 related to mixing, coating, roll press, and slitting technologies, 10 focused on electrode and battery manufacturing, and three international patent applications. In total, 49 patents have been registered and applied.”
The company’s innovation efforts extend beyond conventional lithium-ion battery manufacturing. KGA is actively developing technologies for dry-process battery equipment, gel casting systems, all-solid-state battery equipment, advanced cell assembly solutions, and energy management technologies. Among its notable advancements is a simultaneous double-sided coating system that enables both sides of an electrode to be coated and dried within a single process. By consolidating multiple production stages into a single operation, the technology helps manufacturers reduce equipment footprint, improve productivity, lower energy consumption, and achieve greater coating uniformity.
KGA has also developed advanced process-control technologies that integrate real-time viscosity measurement, flowmeter-based slurry supply management, and density-linked coating weight control, enabling tighter process control, reduced material waste, and improved production efficiency. Further strengthening its innovation pipeline are technologies currently under development, including hybrid laser and hot-air drying systems, integrated roll press and slitter equipment, ultrasonic welding and insulation coating systems for composite substrates, and advanced laser drying solutions designed to improve battery performance and manufacturing productivity. Through these advancements, KGA continues to expand the boundaries of electrode process technology while helping customers prepare for the future of battery manufacturing.
Expanding the technology portfolio
In order to maximize its capabilities and resources, KGA recently expanded its technology portfolio into semiconductor logistics and special equipment businesses in cooperation with proven market leaders. Through business diversification, KGA’s business will become more resilient, helping to offset market volatility.
Accelerating Growth on the Global Stage
Since its establishment, KGA has steadily expanded its footprint beyond South Korea. The company’s equipment and engineering solutions have been deployed across multiple international markets, including the United States, Poland, Romania, Türkiye, China, and Vietnam. These projects demonstrate KGA’s ability to support customers in diverse manufacturing environments while meeting international quality standards. As demand for battery production capacity continues to grow worldwide, KGA is accelerating its international expansion strategy. The company has outlined plans to establish subsidiaries across the United States, Europe, and China, creating localized support networks capable of delivering faster customer service, engineering assistance, and technical expertise. This global approach reflects KGA’s ambition to become not merely a regional equipment supplier but a worldwide engineering partner for the battery industry.
To support its expanding customer base, KGA is also making significant investments in manufacturing capacity. A major milestone in this journey is the development of its new manufacturing facility in Pyeongtaek. “The new facility will significantly strengthen our production capabilities and provide the foundation needed to support future growth,” explains Kim. “It will allow us to manufacture multiple large-scale coating and roll press systems simultaneously while responding more effectively to the growing needs of customers worldwide.”
By significantly increasing production capacity, KGA is positioning itself to meet rising demand from electric vehicle manufacturers, battery producers, and energy storage companies worldwide.
Engineering a More Sustainable Energy Future
As global industries pursue cleaner energy solutions and sustainable technologies, the importance of battery manufacturing has never been greater. In this evolving landscape, KGA continues to focus on developing technologies that help manufacturers improve efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and support more sustainable production practices. From solvent-free dry-process coating systems to advanced process-control technologies and next-generation battery equipment, the company’s innovations are designed to address both operational performance and long-term industry needs.
Supported by decades of engineering expertise, a growing portfolio of proprietary technologies, and an expanding global presence, KGA continues to play an increasingly important role in advancing battery manufacturing and supporting the global transition toward electrification and sustainable energy. “The future of energy storage will be shaped not only by breakthroughs in battery chemistry but also by the technologies that make those batteries possible. KGA will continue to invest in innovation and engineering excellence to help build that future,” concludes Kim.