LK Technology

The world’s largest Giga Press manufacturer, LK Technology Holdings, which includes both LK Machinery, IDRA Group and is also a minority shareholder in TPI, has released the financial results for the first half of fiscal year 2025.

The revenue for the die casting business was $208 million (-18.7%) representing 62.4% of revenue, in full fiscal year 2024 it was 73.5%. On the other hand the plastic injection molding business increased by 30.1% yoy and the CNC business by 13.7%.

Die casting business summary

• Business Expansion

"During the reported period, the company reached cooperation intention with a leading OEM in new energy vehicle (NEV) sector who has significant presence in southern part of China and globally" (BYD?).

"The proactive approach of downstream customers to integrated die-casting (gigacasting) is expected to drive significant revenue growth for the Company. Additionally, their overseas expansion will help expand the Company's market reach."

• Technological Development

LK carried out the R&D of the dual injection Giga Press and produced the world's largest HPDC component ever with a dual injection 13,000 t Giga Press. They also carried out the R&D of magnesium thixomolding machines (TPI in Austria and LK test center in China).

I’m not a shareholder, I don’t trade the stock, I don’t represent LK Technology or any of its subsidiaries, I’m just independently reporting

Wencan

Local Chinese media in Chongqing reported that Wencan die casting's new facility in the area is 80% complete. The new factory will include two sets of 12,000 t Giga Presses (supplied by LK Machinery imo).

The project is set to be completed in April 2025 and start mass production in the 2nd half of 2025. It will provide Wencan's customers with lightweight gigacasting solutions.

Wencan is not new to the Gigacasting market and has plenty of experience with former Huawei's brand, AITO. In fact Wencan operates 9,000 t Giga Presses inside the Seres factory to produce the Rear UnderBody (RUB) casting of the AITO M9.

Guangdong HongTu, another T1 supplier, already operates a 12,000 t Giga Press for Xpeng. It produces the RUB of the Xpeng X9. GHT will also likely be the supplier for the battery trays for Honda’s Chinese brand “Ye” in the first half of next year, also produced with the 12,000 t Giga Press.

Tesla

Cybercab

According to Lead Engineer for the Tesla Robotaxi program, Eric E., the Tesla Cybercab will have 50% fewer parts compared to a Tesla Model 3 and its body in white will have 60% fewer parts compared to the Model Y body in white.

New Machine?

IDRA Group, Tesla’s Giga Press supplier for Europe and North America, posted a new video showing 4 different machines in their factory, one of those is a 9,000 t Giga Press in Tesla red and white color scheme.

If this machine will be delivered to Tesla, it would be the third machine of this size in its arsenal of 20+ Giga Presses. Anyway, we will certainly find out, anything of that size which gets delivered to Gigafactory Texas will be easily spotted by Joe Tegtmeyer.

This Week’s Gallery

Tesla Gigafactory Texas update from Joe Tegtmeyer

While the Cybertruck production line enjoys a production pause for upgrades regarding the general assembly section, the die casting shops keeps cooking new castings.

Yizumi LEAP 9000 (9,000 t die casting machine)

Zeekr MIX rear underbody gigacasting

Last Week’s News