# Advancing Battery Innovation for a Power Grid Under Pressure w/ Arwed Niestroj

- Show: [The Manufacturing Executive](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive)
- Published: 2026-05-19
- Episode: 310
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-05-19-advancing-battery-innovation-for-a-power-grid-under-pressure-w-arwed-niestroj
- Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-manufacturing-executive#episode-80727bd8-08dd-49ab-b3ad-aaed7e812757

## Summary

Arwed Niestroj, President and COO of Sakuu, explains why battery manufacturing is a complex material science problem where tiny defects cause failures, contrasting it with standard physical manufacturing. He details Sakuu's dry electrode coating technology, which eliminates toxic solvents and reduces facility footprint by 55%, enabling cost-effective Western production. Niestroj discusses how AI accelerates scaling and process control for these complex chemical reactions, and argues that this innovation allows for reshoring battery production to the US by lowering capital and operational costs.

## Chapters

- [0:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-05-19-advancing-battery-innovation-for-a-power-grid-under-pressure-w-arwed-niestroj#t=38) Introduction: Arwed Niestroj and Sakuu's Mission
- [4:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-05-19-advancing-battery-innovation-for-a-power-grid-under-pressure-w-arwed-niestroj#t=279) Battery Limitations in EVs, Phones, and Data Centers
- [7:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-05-19-advancing-battery-innovation-for-a-power-grid-under-pressure-w-arwed-niestroj#t=437) The Complexity of Battery Chemistry and Manufacturing
- [12:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-05-19-advancing-battery-innovation-for-a-power-grid-under-pressure-w-arwed-niestroj#t=722) Scaling Challenges and Western vs. Asian Production
- [14:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-05-19-advancing-battery-innovation-for-a-power-grid-under-pressure-w-arwed-niestroj#t=863) Sakuu's Dry Electrode Coating Technology
- [19:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-05-19-advancing-battery-innovation-for-a-power-grid-under-pressure-w-arwed-niestroj#t=1152) Applications in Solid State and Supercapacitors
- [21:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-05-19-advancing-battery-innovation-for-a-power-grid-under-pressure-w-arwed-niestroj#t=1261) Using AI to Master Process Variables and Scaling
- [23:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-05-19-advancing-battery-innovation-for-a-power-grid-under-pressure-w-arwed-niestroj#t=1416) Reshoring Battery Manufacturing to the US

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Sakuu (company)
- Mercedes-Benz (company)
- Daimler (company)
- ZF (company)
- Guerrilla 76 (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Printing Batteries, how AM is changing Battery Manufacturing and Performance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-05-15-printing-batteries-how-am-is-changing-battery-manufacturing-and-performance) (Additive Snack)
- [3D electrodes for Next Generation Batteries with Moshiel Biton, CEO and Co-founder of Addionics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2022-10-13-3d-electrodes-for-next-generation-batteries-with-moshiel-biton-ceo-and-co-founde) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [59. AI For Better Battery Design & Training Microrobots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-03-01-59-ai-for-better-battery-design-training-microrobots) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Mailbag episode! Biotech, layoffs, battery recycling and more](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-02-02-mailbag-episode-biotech-layoffs-battery-recycling-and-more) (Catalyst)
- [BONUS: Exploring Manufacturing Partnerships Part 1, Live from IMTS 2022 (brought to you by KUKA)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-11-08-bonus-exploring-manufacturing-partnerships-part-1-live-from-imts-2022-brought-to) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)

## Citing this page

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