Key to Mass Production of Solid-State Batteries by 2025

The path to mass production of solid-state batteries by 2025 begins with breakthroughs in core equipment technologies. Isostatic presses and transfer presses are emerging as powerful tools to solve solid-solid interface challenges, propelling solid-state batteries from laboratory prototypes to large-scale manufacturing.

Solid-state batteries, with their high energy density and exceptional safety, have emerged as the most anticipated next-generation energy storage technology in the new energy sector. Compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries, solid-state batteries replace flammable and volatile liquid electrolytes with non-flammable solid electrolytes. This not only fundamentally resolves battery safety concerns but also holds the potential to achieve energy densities exceeding 500 Wh/kg. However, transitioning from laboratory samples to mass production presents numerous manufacturing challenges for solid-state batteries, with solid-solid interface contact being the most critical. Ensuring tight contact between the solid cathode, solid electrolyte, and solid anode to guarantee efficient ion conduction remains a key bottleneck hindering industrialization.

I. Challenges of Solid-State Batteries: The Gap Between Laboratory and Mass Production

The core difficulty in mass-producing solid-state batteries lies in resolving interface contact issues between solid materials. Unlike traditional liquid batteries where electrodes achieve full contact with liquid electrolytes, solid-solid interfaces in solid-state batteries are prone to voids and poor contact.

These issues increase interfacial impedance and reduce ion transport efficiency, directly impacting the battery’s rate performance and cycle life. Research indicates three primary problems at solid-solid interfaces during solid-state battery production and operation: contact degradation, pore retention, and insufficient particle contact.

The manufacturing processes for solid-state batteries are also fundamentally different. Conventional techniques like wet coating and electrolyte filling are no longer applicable, necessitating the development of entirely new production equipment and process routes. The high capital investment in equipment means that the current production cost of solid-state batteries is estimated to be 3-5 times that of traditional batteries.

II. Isostatic Pressing Machine: The Core Equipment for Solid-State Battery Densification

The isostatic pressing machine has emerged as a critical solution for addressing solid-solid interface issues in solid-state batteries. Operating on Pascal’s principle, it applies uniform pressure to battery components from all directions.

Compared to traditional roller compaction and hot pressing processes, isostatic pressing offers distinct advantages. Conventional roller compaction applies pressure only vertically, often resulting in uneven pressure distribution and edge effects, with typical compactness below 85%. In contrast, batteries treated with isostatic pressing achieve compactness exceeding 95%, significantly enhancing interface contact effectiveness.

Within the solid-state battery production flow, the isostatic press is positioned after stacking and before pre-sealing. The specific process sequence is: electrode slitting → stacking → forming hot pressing → isostatic pressing → pre-sealing → high-voltage activation and capacity testing.

By applying 360-degree uniform pressure, the isostatic press effectively eliminates voids within the solid-state battery, ensuring tight packing of particles in the cathode, electrolyte, and anode. Taking sulfide solid-state batteries as an example, after isostatic pressing, the interfacial contact area increases by over 40%, while interfacial impedance decreases by 50%-70%, significantly improving the battery’s endurance and fast-charging capabilities.

The core components of isostatic pressing equipment include the high-pressure vessel, the pressurization and medium system, the temperature control system, and the safety protection system. These systems must work in concert to ensure stability and safety under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions.

III.Transfer Printing Machine: Precision Placement Solution for Solid-State Electrolytes

The Transfer Printing Machine is another critical piece of equipment in solid-state battery production, primarily responsible for the precise transfer of solid-state electrolytes. It employs unique transfer printing technology to accurately deposit solid-state electrolytes onto electrodes.

Compared to traditional spraying processes, transfer printing technology enables uniform electrolyte distribution, avoiding issues such as material clogging and thickness inconsistencies. Transfer printing achieves a yield rate exceeding 95%, significantly surpassing traditional methods, ensuring consistency and reliability in battery production.

Transfer printing machines serve multiple applications in solid-state battery manufacturing. They can be used for preparing and transferring solid-state electrolyte films, as well as for transferring and assembling electrode materials. The precise transfer technology ensures tight bonding between the electrolyte and electrodes, effectively enhancing the battery’s ionic conductivity efficiency.

As a global leader in battery equipment, Lead Intelligent has developed composite transfer equipment operating at speeds up to 50m/min, setting the industry benchmark. This high-speed transfer technology lays the foundation for mass production of solid-state batteries.

IV. Technical Bottlenecks and Innovation: The Equipment Manufacturers’ Path to Breakthroughs

Although isostatic presses and transfer presses have become key equipment for solid-state battery production, numerous technical bottlenecks remain to be overcome.

The primary challenges facing isostatic press equipment lie in enhancing production efficiency and safety. Current isostatic processes involve lengthy pressure-building and pressure-release times, impacting overall production cycle times. The complex manufacturing process for high-pressure vessels and the high equipment costs limit their large-scale application.

Temperature control precision presents another major challenge. Isostatic press equipment must maintain temperatures between 50-500°C with ±5°C accuracy, as deviations adversely affect material properties. This demands exceptionally high standards from temperature control systems.

The technical difficulty in transfer printing equipment lies in further improving transfer precision and speed. The solid electrolyte layer is typically very thin (<20μm), requiring uniform transfer without defects. Simultaneously, transfer speed must meet mass production demands to enhance production line cycle times.

To address these challenges, equipment manufacturers are driving continuous innovation. Lead Intelligent has developed a fully integrated all-solid-state battery production line solution with complete independent intellectual property rights, covering the entire process from dry electrode preparation to isostatic pressing.

Liyuanheng has developed a three-tier protection system (explosion-proof, toxic gas prevention, leak prevention) tailored to the specific requirements of sulfide solid-state batteries. This ensures production safety while achieving equipment yield rates exceeding 98%.

V. Market Landscape: The Rise of Chinese Equipment and Global Competition

The solid-state battery equipment market exhibits a diversified competitive landscape. In the isostatic pressing equipment sector, major international players include Quintus and KOBE STEEL, while domestic suppliers such as Chuanxi Machinery and Gangyan Haopu have emerged.

The transfer molding equipment market is equally competitive. Domestic companies like Lead Intelligent, Haimuxing, and Liyuanheng have developed the capability to compete directly with international counterparts. As the world’s sole provider of complete solid-state battery production line solutions, Lead Intelligent has delivered core equipment for various production stages to leading battery clients across Europe, America, Japan, and South Korea.

China’s solid-state battery equipment industry has formed a competitive landscape characterized by “Lead Intelligent leading the pack, Haimuxing/Liyuanheng catching up, and Naconor/Putailai carving out niche advantages.” The technological gap with international counterparts has narrowed from five years to two years, accelerating domestic production.

Order data indicates that Lead Intelligent secured new orders worth 12.4 billion yuan in the first half of 2025, marking a 70% year-on-year increase. Its equipment unit price is 30% lower than Japanese and Korean suppliers, offering a significant cost advantage. Haimuxing secured a 2GWh full-line order in the first half of 2025, marking the industry’s first GWh-scale mass production equipment order, with overseas orders surging 192% year-on-year.

2025-2026 represents a critical phase for equipment mass production validation. Key milestones such as Lead Intelligent’s ramp-up of full-line production capacity in Germany (target: 5GWh/year) and Haimuxing’s yield rate testing for sulfide equipment will determine the trajectory of the industry’s competitive landscape.

VI. Future Trends: Intelligent and Scalable Solutions Driving Cost Reduction

As the industrialization of solid-state batteries accelerates, isostatic presses and transfer machines are evolving toward greater intelligence and precision. Next-generation equipment will enable precise control of pressure, temperature, and time, achieving pressure control accuracy of ±0.5%, thereby providing reliable assurance for mass production of solid-state batteries.

Intelligent production line management will become standard configuration. By integrating MES systems and digital twin technology, full traceability of cell voltage curves and capacity grading data will be achieved, enhancing production consistency and yield rates.

Scaled production will significantly reduce equipment costs. As capacity expands and technology optimizes, sulfide electrolyte costs are expected to drop substantially from the current 200-250 million yuan per ton, driving down overall solid-state battery expenses.

Hybrid electrolyte technology may serve as a transitional solution. Combining the advantages of different electrolyte materials—such as oxides and polymers—can balance ionic conductivity and interface compatibility while reducing manufacturing complexity.

Deep collaboration between equipment manufacturers and battery producers will become standard practice. Examples include Lead Intelligent partnering with CATL and BYD, and Lihuanheng collaborating with Qingtao Energy and GAC Aion to develop complete production lines. This collaborative innovation model will accelerate technological iteration and industrialization.

By 2026, the global planned production capacity for solid-state batteries is projected to exceed 1,000 GWh.

As core production equipment, the market size for isostatic presses and transfer presses will also grow rapidly.

Domestic equipment manufacturers are emerging as key players in this technological revolution. Companies like Lead Intelligent, Hi-Mox, and Lihuanheng have gained recognition from leading international battery manufacturers through technological breakthroughs and cost advantages.

This manufacturing revolution in solid-state batteries has only just begun, yet it already paints a vision of a safer, more efficient, and longer-lasting energy future.