18650 and 26650 Lithium-ion Cylindrical Battery Production Line

TOBGROUP designs and builds a 18650 and 26650 lithium-ion cylindrical battery production line for the customer’s battery factory.

Project Details

TOBGROUP delivered a complete 18650/26650 cylindrical lithium-ion battery production line for a battery manufacturer in Southeast Asia. The project was designed to support stable mass production while maintaining flexibility between two mainstream cylindrical formats.

Project Type

Battery Product Line

Origin

Southeast Asia

Surface Area

3000-4000 m²

Date

2018

Project Overview

In 2018, TOBGROUP delivered a complete 18650 and 26650 Lithium-ion Cylindrical Battery Production Line for a battery manufacturer in Southeast Asia. The project was designed to support stable mass production while maintaining flexibility between two mainstream cylindrical formats. TOBGROUP was responsible for the full scope, including production line engineering, equipment manufacturing, auxiliary systems integration, and battery material supply. The line was developed to meet industrial requirements for consistency, safety, and process controllability, supporting the customer’s transition from early-stage scaling to long-term commercial manufacturing.

Ⅰ. Clients Requirement

The customer’s core requirements were driven by both manufacturing flexibility and cost-effective scalability:

Dual Cell Format Compatibility	Material-System Matching
The production line needed to support both 18650 and 26650 cylindrical cells, allowing rapid format switching without major equipment replacement.	Equipment parameters had to be compatible with commonly used cathode, anode, separator, and electrolyte systems for cylindrical lithium-ion batteries.
Stable Mass Production Capability	Local Engineering Constraints
The customer required a line suitable for continuous industrial operation, with stable yield, controllable defect rates, and repeatable process performance.	The factory layout, power supply, and environmental conditions in Southeast Asia required tailored engineering adaptation rather than standard line duplication.
Process Completeness	Operator Skill Level Consideration
Coverage from electrode manufacturing to final cell testing, ensuring full in-house production capability rather than partial outsourcing.	The cylindrical battery production line needed a reasonable level of automation and clear process logic to support local operator training and long-term maintenance.

Ⅱ. TOBGROUP Solution

TOBGROUP delivered a turnkey cylindrical battery production line manufacturing solution, covering engineering, equipment, materials, and commissioning.

Production Line Engineering & Layout	Designed a modular production line architecture to support both 18650 and 26650 formats. Optimized equipment spacing and logistics flow to match the available plant footprint. Integrated electrode, cell assembly, formation, and testing zones with clear process separation.
Equipment Supply & Customization	Supplied full-process equipment, from electrode preparation to final inspection. Customized winding, welding, and assembly stations to support dual-size cylindrical cells. Implemented adjustable tooling and parameter ranges instead of fixed-format equipment.
Process Control & Quality Assurance	Defined standard process windows for coating, calendaring, winding, electrolyte filling, and sealing. Integrated in-line and off-line inspection points for thickness, weight, and electrical performance. Ensured compatibility with common industrial MES or manual data-recording systems.
Battery Material Supply	Provided a complete battery material package, covering cathode, anode, separator, electrolyte, and auxiliary materials. Ensured material specifications matched equipment design parameters to reduce process mismatch risks. Supported early-stage production trials with batch-consistent material supply.
Installation, Commissioning & Training	Conducted on-site installation and mechanical/electrical commissioning. Supported initial process validation and pilot production. Delivered structured training for operators, engineers, and maintenance personnel.

Ⅲ. Equipment & Materials List

It covers the entire production process of the cylindrical battery production line

Category	Equipment / Material	Description
Electrode Process	Mixing System	Slurry preparation for cathode and anode materials
Electrode Process	Coating Machine	Double-side coating for cylindrical electrode sheets
Electrode Process	Calendaring Machine	Density and thickness control
Electrode Process	Slitting Machine	Precision electrode width cutting
Cell Assembly	Winding Machine	Compatible with 18650 / 26650 formats
Cell Assembly	Tab Welding Machine	Current collector welding
Cell Assembly	Electrolyte Filling System	Vacuum-assisted electrolyte injection
Cell Assembly	Sealing & Crimping Machine	Cylindrical cell sealing
Formation & Aging	Formation Racks	Charge–discharge formation process
Formation & Aging	Aging Racks	Cell stabilization and screening
Testing	Capacity Tester	Electrical performance testing
Materials	Cathode / Anode Materials	Industrial-grade lithium-ion materials
Materials	Separator	Cylindrical cell compatible separator
Materials	Electrolyte	Standard lithium-ion electrolyte systems