NEO Battery Materials Ltd. has appointed Mr. Seok Joung Youn as Head of Manufacturing and Facility Operations. Mr. Youn brings four decades of experience in lithium-ion battery production and quality control, gained at Samsung SDI and several battery startups. His technical expertise spans process engineering, large-volume manufacturing, and yield optimization for both small-format and automotive battery cells.
During his tenure at Samsung SDI, Mr. Youn led the launch of the industry’s first 1,200 mm-wide electrode production line for electric vehicle batteries. He also established operator protocols, stabilized product yields, and helped reduce manufacturing costs by minimizing defects. More recently, he held senior roles at companies including EoCell, where he oversaw pilot production lines in support of a European gigafactory’s commercial-scale qualification and start of production.
At NEO, Mr. Youn will work alongside Dr. J.S. Jeoung, Senior Vice President of Commercialization and Cell Development, to direct manufacturing operations. His responsibilities include ensuring that electrode and large-format cell production meets the quality standards required by NEO’s global partners, and facilitating the scale-up of silicon anode materials from laboratory innovation to near-commercial validation. His appointment comes as NEO advances plans to expand its silicon battery capacity and complete robust testing of its materials in real-world applications.
Mr. Spencer Huh, President & CEO of NEO, stated, “We are honoured to welcome Mr. Youn to NEO Battery Materials, and we are excited to build a well-rounded team that covers the full spectrum of battery manufacturing and technology. Mr. Youn retains deep operational experience and a proven ability to lead high-precision, large-scale battery manufacturing, having worked at Samsung and other global companies. His know-how and leadership will further strengthen our execution capabilities as we proceed to the next phase of commercial readiness.”
NEO Battery Materials is a Canadian technology company focused on developing low-cost silicon anode materials for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and energy storage systems. The company’s patented process aims to deliver batteries with longer run times and faster charging compared with existing solutions.
Source: Neo Battery Materials
