Who could forget yesteryear’s disaster with the Samsung Galaxy Note7. It was poised to take the crown for the year’s greatest smartphone, but a series of battery explosions quickly put further production to a halt. As soon as the first explosions surfaced, Samsung quickly went into investigation mode to pinpoint the source and hopefully initiate a recall for the smartphone. While it did finish an investigation and manufactured “fixed” phones, the reports didn’t stop. The only thing left to do was to initiate a final global recall and halt all production of the Note7.
Following several months of more in-depth investigations, Samsung has announced the cause of the Note7 incidents and measures to prevent a recurrence during a press conference held in Seoul, Korea. DJ Koh, President of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics, shared detailed results of the investigation and expressed his sincere apology and gratitude to Galaxy Note7 customers, mobile operators, retail and distribution partners and business partners for their patience and continued support.
Koh was joined by executives from UL, Exponent and TUV Rheinland, leading independent industry groups that conducted their own investigation into various aspects of the Galaxy Note7 incidents.
Findings indicated that the lithium-ion batteries were not properly designed. A standard Li-ion battery is made with a positive and a negative electrode. A layer should be designed to keep the two electrodes apart because bare interaction between them can cause malfunctions and short circuits.
For the first batch of batteries, “the main cause… was deflections in the negative electrodes,” said Koh. Additionally, the electrodes were misaligned, increasing the likelihood for short-circuiting. The second batch fared no better. Despite being produced by a different manufacturer, there were different welding issues which caused the interaction between the two layers.
Based on what the company learned from the investigation, Samsung implemented a broad range of internal quality and safety processes to further enhance product safety including additional protocols such as the multi-layer safety measures and 8-Point Battery Safety Check. Samsung also formed a Battery Advisory Group of external advisers, academic and research experts to ensure it maintains a clear and objective perspective on battery safety and innovation.
“For the last several months, together with independent industry expert organizations, we conducted thorough investigation to find cause to the Galaxy Note7 incidents.” Koh said, “Today, more than ever, we are committed to earning the trust of our customers through innovation that redefines what is possible in safety, and as a gateway to unlimited possibilities and incredible new experiences.”
With the Note7 brouhaha behind them, Samsung can focus on releasing the upcoming Galaxy S8 line in the coming months.
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