America Case Study: Sodium Battery R&D Laboratory Equipment for Unigrid Battery

2026-04-13

When a US clean energy startup set out to develop safer, longer-lasting batteries that perform reliably in any climate -- from desert heat to arctic cold -- they needed more than off-the-shelf equipment. They needed a partner who could engineer a complete sodium-ion R&D line from scratch.

That is exactly what Dongguan Wangsheng Automation delivered for Unigrid Battery.

The Challenge

Headquartered in San Diego, California, Unigrid Battery is committed to advancing next-generation energy storage. Their mission: develop batteries that are safer than conventional lithium-ion, more tolerant of extreme temperatures, and longer-lasting in real-world operating conditions.

To achieve this, Unigrid needed a complete sodium battery R&D laboratory -- designed not for mass production, but for high-precision research into cell chemistry, electrode performance, and thermal management. They required a supplier with deep expertise in battery manufacturing processes and the flexibility to customize equipment for sodium-ion chemistry specifically.

The Solution

Wangsheng Automation designed and delivered a tailored R&D laboratory line for Unigrid, centered on two precision machines:

1. Dual-Dispersion Planetary Mixing Machine (WS-JBJ-5L, 5L capacity) Provides uniform slurry preparation with high-shear mixing, critical for achieving consistent electrode coating quality in sodium-ion cells

2. Roll-to-Roll Experimental Coating Machine (WS-TBJ-200-1M, 200mm width, 1m oven length) Enables precise, uniform dry film coating for electrode substrates, with adjustable thickness control suited to a wide range of R&D experiments

Both machines were configured and customized to meet the specific technical parameters of sodium-ion cell research -- reflecting Wangsheng's ability to adapt standard platforms for specialized applications.

Why This Matters

This project highlights two capabilities that define Wangsheng Automation's global service approach:

Customized R&D Solutions: Sodium-ion battery research presents unique challenges -- different electrode formulations, electrolyte compositions, and thermal characteristics compared to conventional lithium-ion. Wangsheng's engineering team configured the mixing and coating systems to accommodate these specific requirements, rather than simply supplying catalog equipment.

One-Stop Equipment Supply: From slurry preparation to electrode coating, Wangsheng provides the core equipment backbone for sodium-ion R&D lines. Combined with our expertise in cylindrical, pouch, and prismatic cell formats -- and our team's combined experience from ATL, CATL, BYD, and EVE -- we support battery research projects from concept to commissioning.

Looking Forward

Unigrid Battery's sodium-ion R&D laboratory is now fully operational, supporting their research into safer, more climate-resilient energy storage solutions. This project is further proof that Wangsheng Automation has the engineering depth, manufacturing capability, and global service reach to deliver complete battery pilot line solutions -- anywhere in the world.

If your organization is evaluating a lithium battery or sodium-ion battery laboratory or pilot line project, we invite you to connect with our team to discuss your specific requirements.