China’s cylindrical lithium battery plant targets 18 GWh with 240 cells per minute

China’s high-tech enterprise CBAK Energy Technology is scaling production of its large cylindrical lithium-ion batteries at its Nanjing Phase II facility, with plans to eventually raise annual capacity from 3 gigawatt-hours (GWh) to 18 GWh. The company said the expansion is centered on its Model 32140 full-tab cylindrical cell, which is being produced using automated equipment, digital quality controls and high-speed assembly systems. The long-term plan would make Nanjing Phase II six times larger in annual production capacity. CBAK said the project covers a planned gross floor area of about 2.9 million square feet across roughly 58.8 acres. The scale-up comes as the company reports 92 million cumulative deliveries of its Model 32140 cells as of August 7, 2026. The facility is designed to increase output while keeping manufacturing processes consistent as production volumes rise. Faster lines, tighter control One of the key changes is the use of faster equipment across cell assembly. Winding machines can process up to 240 cells per minute, while a rotary indexing system performs tab flattening and full-tab forming in a single step. Laser welding is also being used to speed up production. Machines can perform on-the-fly welding of current-collector disks at up to 120 cells per minute. Another laser welding process increases the current-carrying area by about one-third and has an average cycle time of roughly 0.35 seconds per weld. Earlier electrode processing has also been automated. CBAK says dual-roll continuous calendering on the anode line improves electrode thickness consistency by 30%. An induction-heating process on the cathode line is designed to reduce web breaks during high-speed processing. Together, the systems are aimed at keeping production stable as the company increases throughput rather than simply adding more manufacturing equipment. Every cell gets digital identity Automation extends beyond the production machinery. Automated guided vehicles move materials between manufacturing stages, while CBAK says 100% of the line’s defined core manufacturing processes are automated. The facility also uses a “one cell, one digital identity” system that connects each battery to its manufacturing history. More than 100 critical product parameters are inspected and tracked during production. UV marking links the finished cell’s identification code to its corresponding jelly-roll code. This creates a digital record that can help manufacturers trace a cell back through its production process when a quality problem is detected. CBAK also uses an AI-enabled inspection system for weld quality. Within its defined inspection scope, the system has achieved a 100 percent detection rate for insufficient-fusion weld defects, according to the company. “Manufacturing excellence is how we translate battery innovation into dependable supply for customers,” said Chenggang Yuan, deputy general manager of Nanjing CBAK New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. “At Nanjing Phase II, process discipline, automation and manufacturing traceability operate as an integrated system.” The planned 18 GWh capacity is not yet the facility’s current output. CBAK said Nanjing Phase II currently has 3 GWh of annual production capacity, with the larger figure forming part of its long-term development plan.The expansion is intended to support demand from energy storage, electric mobility and other applications while giving CBAK a more automated manufacturing platform for its large cylindrical cells.Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.With over a decade-long career in journalism, Neetika Walter has worked with The Economic Times, ANI, and Hindustan Times, covering politics, business, technology, and the clean energy sector. Passionate about contemporary culture, books, poetry, and storytelling, she brings depth and insight to her writing. When she isn’t chasing stories, she’s likely lost in a book or enjoying the company of her dogs.