What KNS does

KNS (Korea Nano System) is a South Korea-headquartered, KOSDAQ-listed (ticker 432470) manufacturer of capital equipment for the battery and electric vehicle supply chain. The company operates three product lines: secondary battery (2차전지) manufacturing equipment, EV battery module assembly systems, and miscellaneous industrial equipment (기타장비). These offerings are anchored by a proprietary AX Autonomous Manufacturing System (AX 자율형 제조 시스템), an in-house automation platform that integrates with KNS's production lines to enable autonomous cell and module manufacturing workflows. Equipment has been positioned around next-generation cell formats, including 46-series cylindrical and 4680 batteries, based on the company's news coverage of customer programs at Samsung SDI, LG Energy Solution, and CATL.

The company's revenue mechanics are not publicly disclosed. As a specialized equipment vendor, KNS sells into the capex budgets of large battery cell and module producers; deal sizes are likely lumpy and project-driven, with revenues tied to customer fab build-outs and line qualifications. The firm operates a 11–50 employee organization with a dual footprint: headquarters and engineering in Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do (South Korea), and a manufacturing facility in Bac Giang Province, Vietnam, which is co-located with a major Korean battery customer's industrial cluster. The company is led by CEO Jung Bong-jin, and on 2025-02-04 acquired Eunsung FA, signaling a capability-expansion posture in factory automation.

Name

KNS

Legal name

(주)케이엔에스

Website

https://knssystem.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KNS (Korea Nano System) is a South Korea-based, KOSDAQ-listed manufacturer of secondary battery, EV battery module, and automation equipment. It serves major global battery producers including Samsung SDI, LG Energy Solution, and CATL with manufacturing systems and its proprietary AX Autonomous Manufacturing System.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Battery Manufacturing Equipment

NAICS

Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (3353), Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513)

SIC

Miscellaneous Electrical Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (3690), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Battery Pack & Module Manufacturing (EV) (IMACACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Battery Modules & Packs (Industrial/Commercial pack assembly) (IMAGAHAB), Battery Pack Manufacturing & Module Assembly (EUAFABAI)

Keywords

• Battery manufacturing equipment
• EV battery module systems
• Secondary battery assembly
• Industrial automation systems
• Autonomous manufacturing solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Gyeongju

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Core offering

KNS designs, manufactures, and supplies industrial equipment and automation systems for the production of secondary (rechargeable) batteries and EV battery modules. Its portfolio spans secondary battery manufacturing equipment, EV battery module assembly systems, other specialized industrial equipment, and the proprietary AX Autonomous Manufacturing System for automated production workflows.

Product overview

KNS (Korea Nano System) operates as a battery and EV manufacturing equipment provider offering a portfolio centered on three core product lines: 2차전지 (Secondary Battery) equipment for rechargeable battery manufacturing, EV Battery Module systems for electric vehicle battery pack production, and 기타장비 (Other Equipment) for miscellaneous industrial applications. The company also provides AX 자율형 제조 시스템 (AX Autonomous Manufacturing System), an autonomous manufacturing technology that integrates with their equipment offerings to enable automated production workflows.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Secondary Battery Manufacturing Equipment (2차전지) Manufacturing equipment for secondary (rechargeable) batteries, supporting the production of battery cells (including 46-series cylindrical formats) for use in energy storage and EV applications. Sold to battery cell manufacturers.
• EV Battery Module Assembly Equipment (EV Battery Module) Manufacturing systems and equipment for assembling EV battery modules and packs, including automated module production lines for electric vehicle applications. Sold to EV and battery module manufacturers.
• Other Industrial Equipment (기타장비) Additional manufacturing equipment and systems for specialized industrial applications beyond battery and EV production. Sold to industrial manufacturers requiring custom automation equipment.
• AX Autonomous Manufacturing System (AX 자율형 제조 시스템) Proprietary autonomous manufacturing system technology for automated production processes in battery and EV manufacturing, integrating automation into KNS's equipment offerings to enable self-operating production workflows.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• CIS (formerly CIS International): Korean provider of battery inspection, formation, and pack assembly equipment. Smaller and narrower in scope than KNS but competes for similar module/pack line spending at Samsung SDI and LG ES.
• Toray Engineering: Japanese supplier of coating, slitting, and assembly equipment for lithium-ion battery production. Overlaps with KNS in automated cell and module production equipment for Asian battery makers.

Direct peers

• Hana Technology: KOSDAQ-listed Korean supplier of battery cell manufacturing and inspection equipment, including stacking and assembly equipment for EV battery programs. Direct peer in the Korean battery equipment supply chain.
• Manz AG: German specialist in automation and process equipment for battery cell manufacturing and assembly, including module and pack production. Comparable as a mid-sized equipment specialist serving global battery OEMs.
• PNE Solutions: Korean KOSDAQ-listed specialist in battery cell and module manufacturing equipment, including formation, packaging, and assembly lines. Direct competitor to KNS in serving Korean battery OEMs with similar automated equipment portfolios.
• Yinghe Technology: Major Chinese supplier of lithium battery production equipment including electrode coating, cell assembly, and module/pack lines. Direct competitor for Asian battery OEM equipment budgets.
• Wuxi Lead Intelligent Equipment: China's leading battery manufacturing equipment maker providing complete cell-to-pack production lines. Competes with KNS for Asian OEM capex, particularly as Korean battery makers expand in China and Southeast Asia.
• SFA Engineering: Korean manufacturer of secondary battery manufacturing equipment and automation systems, supplying pack/module and cell production lines. Comparable in business model, customer set (Samsung SDI, LG ES), and product scope to KNS.

Broad incumbents

• Hitachi High-Tech: Large Japanese industrial equipment and metrology supplier with substantial presence in battery cell inspection and manufacturing systems. Competes at the high end of automated production lines for global battery OEMs.

Others

• CKD Corporation: Japanese factory automation specialist supplying pneumatic and automation components used inside battery manufacturing lines. Adjacent rather than directly competing, but its components enable KNS's competitors and customers alike.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KNS