Metso has introduced new pilot and demonstration plants to support the development and production of precursor cathode active material (pCAM), reinforcing its commitment to innovation in lithium-ion battery technology. These state-of-the-art plants are designed to assist customers in research and development, process optimization, and production scale-up of pCAM, a key component in battery manufacturing. The new systems are based on Metso’s advanced pCAM plant technology launched in 2024 and form part of the company’s intelligent Metso Plus solution offering.

pCAM plays a critical role in lithium-ion batteries, which are central to the global transition toward electric mobility and renewable energy storage. As demand for batteries continues to rise, so does the need for reliable, efficient, and scalable solutions for producing high-quality precursor materials. Metso’s latest offerings aim to meet these industry demands while simplifying operations through automation and digital integration.

“Metso’s pCAM plants are designed to address the growing demand for high-quality precursor materials,” said Markus Koponen, technology manager for precursors at Metso. “The pilot and demo plants are standardized solutions that enable customers to optimize pCAM quality and scale up production using Metso’s technology. Our pCAM process automation and online analyzers significantly reduce the need for manual laboratory analysis and frequent parameter adjustments by operators.”

The OKTOP® pCAM pilot plant allows for the scaling up of pCAM development from laboratory conditions to pilot-scale production. This enables a detailed study of pCAM precipitation phenomena and the creation of customer-specific material samples for battery evaluation. A typical pilot plant includes equipment for reagent feed, precipitation, and filtration. The central feature is a 0.1 m³ OKTOP® pCAM pilot reactor, paired with a PSI® 1000 online particle size analyzer and PF0.4 filter. The plant also integrates a dedicated process control system developed by Metso. The plant is designed to operate in either semi-batch or continuous mode, offering flexibility based on user needs and application goals.

In addition to the pilot setup, Metso offers the OKTOP® pCAM demo unit, which enables customers to scale pCAM processes further toward industrial-level production. This unit is delivered pre-assembled in a container skid to the customer’s site, reducing installation time and complexity. The demo plant includes a larger 3 m³ OKTOP® pCAM reactor, an HRT High Rate Thickener for efficient solid-liquid separation, and the PSI® 1000 analyzer to provide real-time monitoring of particle size during the process.

Together, these pilot and demo plants provide a comprehensive, scalable platform for battery material manufacturers to develop, optimize, and commercialize pCAM processes. With these innovations, Metso continues to support the evolving battery supply chain by delivering solutions that combine technical excellence with practical scalability.