Market Signal: the Koreans converted cells, not integration

SK On signed a five-year deal to supply NeoVolta Power with 9GWh of US-made LFP cells from its Georgia plants, plus a further 9GWh under a framework where NeoVolta assembles the packs and SK On buys them back. Samsung SDI converted a third StarPlus Energy line to LFP the same week.

The signal The Koreans converted their cell lines. They did not convert their US integration capacity, so they are buying it instead, from American manufacturers a fraction of their size.

Hiring Cell manufacturing and pack integration are not the same talent market. Volume pack assembly runs on Manufacturing Engineers who own DC block integration, Quality Leaders who can qualify a line to an OEM standard, and Procurement Leaders who can evidence domestic content under OBBBA.