Skip to main content

Samsung’s batteries just caught fire, and nearly took a factory with them

samsung battery factory fire
Weibo
Samsung may have tried to put its explosive Note 7 debacle to bed with a thorough investigation, press conference, and implementation of new safety procedures earlier this month, but it appears the South Korean firm’s battery woes aren’t behind it. This morning, a factory that is a part of Samsung SDI, the company’s division responsible for designing and manufacturing power packs for the company’s mobile devices, caught fire in dramatic fashion.

Photos on Chinese social media site Weibo showed plumes of black smoke emerging from the roof of the northern Tianjin waste deposit factory. But it apparently looks worse than it was: A Samsung spokesperson told local media that it experienced only “minor damage,” and that battery production wouldn’t be affected.

Factory fires aren’t an uncommon occurrence in East Asia. In 2014, a fire broke out at a printed circuit board manufacturer in Anseong, South Korea; in 2011, a faulty ventilation system caused a large explosion at Apple manufacturing partner Foxconn’s iPad 2 production hub in Chengdu, China; and in January 2016, a multi-floor blaze broke out at Apple manufacturing partner Foxconn’s main iPhone assembly plant in Zhengzhou, China.

Still, it’s another black mark for a company that’s been the subject of a months-long controversy. In early September 2016, reports of exploding Note 7 devices emerged online. Samsung issued a worldwide recall in the weeks following, blaming the problem on a “battery cell issue” and pledging to conduct a “thorough inspection with […] suppliers to identify possible affected batteries on the market.”

The company subsequently began replacing customers’ units with newer, “safer” devices, but several of those caught fire, too.

The controversy reached a fever pitch in late 2016, when the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) banned Note 7 devices from public transit and commercial flights in the U.S. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) followed suit, issuing a mandatory recall of all Note 7 devices.

In response, the South Korean government implemented a new series of regulations that required smartphone makers to notify regulators immediately when they receive receive reports of handsets exploding or bursting into flames.

DJ Koh, president of Samsung’s mobile communications business, told reporters that the company would institute preventative measures going forward. These will include an eight-point visual inspection process, added staff dedicated to overseeing each battery’s safe installation, and the publication of its intellectual property around battery safety standards.

Editors' Recommendations

Kyle Wiggers
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kyle Wiggers is a writer, Web designer, and podcaster with an acute interest in all things tech. When not reviewing gadgets…
Common Samsung Galaxy S10, S10 Plus, and S10e problems and how to fix them
Galaxy S10 Plus.

It's little wonder the Samsung Galaxy S10 range has proved so popular since its release in spring 2019. Comprising three models, the Galaxy S10 range boasts a hole-punch display, powerful hardware, and some outstandingly versatile camera tech.

But like all things in life, it's not perfect. Whether you're rocking the Samsung Galaxy S10, the super-sized Galaxy S10 Plus, or the cheaper (but still great) Galaxy S10e, you're likely to come across some problems and issues that make life with your chosen partner a little harder to handle. But don't worry, there are solutions to most issues, and we're here to dig them out so you can stop pulling your hair out. Here are some of the most common Samsung Galaxy S10, S10 Plus, and S10e problems, and how to fix them.
Issue: Apps crash or Force Close
A big issue that has plagued Galaxy S10 owners since launch has been a certain instability where apps are concerned. It seems that apps are prone to crashing or throwing up a Force Close error. This has happened with a big range of apps, and has even been reported after the Android 11 update. This isn't just an issue with the Galaxy S10, and other Galaxy smartphones have also showcased this error.
Solutions:

Read more
Samsung’s latest 5G mmWave test took place inside a speeding subway train
A subway train in New York City.

As part of the tech industry's ongoing effort to test its 5G network speeds under every set of circumstances imaginable, Samsung announced on Monday that it had successfully managed to attain 1.8Gbps Wi-Fi downlink speeds on the subway in Seoul, South Korea.

The test involved the use of a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra on a moving train, which circulated through five stations in the downtown Seoul area. Samsung had installed its 5G millimeter-wave (mmWave) Compact Macro access units along the railways, where they ran at 800Mhz in the 28GHz spectrum band.

Read more
The best accessories for the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra
Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra.

So you've got your hands on a Samsung Galaxy Note 20 -- or picked its curvier cousin, the Note 20 Ultra, which our reviewer described as the biggest, baddest, most hardcore flagship smartphone you can buy today. Unsurprisingly, now you're shopping for accessories to get a bit more out of your gorgeous new device. There's plenty of choice out there if you're looking to accessorize your phone, so how do you work out what's worth your hard-earned cash? We've already rounded up some of the best Galaxy Note 20 cases and the best cases for the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra too, though we'll include a couple of our favorites right here. Our selection includes some of the best Samsung Galaxy Note 20 accessories you can find right now, from stands to earbuds and portable chargers for your Samsung Galaxy Note 20 or Note 20 Ultra.
PowerA MOGA XP5-X Plus Bluetooth Controller

The Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra both boast powerful processors and large displays perfect for gaming -- and if you're serious about your games, you'll want to invest in a controller. This one from PowerA is ideal if you're already an Xbox owner as it's designed for cross-platform support with Xbox's services. With wireless Bluetooth connectivity, a detachable phone grip, and mappable Advanced Gaming Buttons, it's a must for gamers. We've rounded up some of the best controllers for Android phones too, if you need more choice.

Read more