Samsung SDI once again slams Samsung Electronics

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Samsung SDI once again slams Samsung Electronics

디지털데일리 발행일 2013-10-30 14:11:27

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Samsung SDI once again appeared to criticize its affiliate Samsung Electronics, this time by voicing complaints over how the electronics maker has failed to choose SDI batteries for its curved smartphones.

“We are perfectly capable of mass producing these (flexible) batteries on order from Samsung Electronics,” he said to address media inquiries on why Samsung SDI appeared to be lagging LG Chem, a main rival in the battery market.

Park’s comments indicated that it was not a matter of technology, but due to Samsung Electronics’ reluctance to use SDI batteries for its smartphones that\'s making SDI look bad.

Samsung Electronics had earlier failed to select SDI as a supplier for its first curved smartphone, the Galaxy Round, launched early this month.

Flexible batteries - which are not exactly flexible but actually in a curved shape - are a crucial element for producing wearable devices.

LG Chem is currently supplying LG Electronics with its version of flexible batteries for the G Flex, the company’s first curved smartphone scheduled to be launched next month.

If Samsung Electronics had used SDI batteries, Samsung SDI would have been the first to mass produce flexible batteries, and not LG Chem.

Going back, SDI chief executive Park Sang-jin was in hot water a couple of weeks ago by suggesting Samsung’s Galaxy S4 phones were exploding because Samsung Electronics was using Chinese batteries.

On Oct.17, Park had said: “Chinese batteries have safety issues, and that’s why we’re discouraging Samsung Electronics from using them.”

The CEO was indicating the electronics company was opting for cheaper batteries to cut costs.

During the third quarter of this year, Samsung SDI’s sales reached 1.29 trillion won, while its operating profit stood at 29.2 billion won to reflect a 13.7 percent and 66.3 percent decrease, respectively.

crow@ddaily.co.kr