An apparatus for deposition of a plurality of electrochemical cells in a horizontal series on a ribbon-type substrate, the apparatus comprising: a deposition chamber in fluid communication with a first material source and with a second material source wherein the first material source allows deposition of an anode or a cathode, and the second material source allows deposition of an electrolyte; a first gate in fluid communication with the deposition chamber and configured to be maintained under gas and pressure conditions similar to conditions within the deposition chamber; a second gate in fluid communication with the deposition chamber and configured to be maintained under gas and pressure conditions similar to conditions within the deposition chamber; the substrate positioned between two reels and extending through the first gate, the deposition chamber, and the second gate; and a controller configured to rotate the reels in concert to move the substrate in a direction through the deposition chamber while material from the material source is deposited on the substrate wherein the controller is configured to rotate the reels in alternating directions and to instruct the deposition chamber to deposit on the substrate an electrode from the first material source when the substrate is moved in a first direction, and then to deposit on the electrode an electrolyte from the second material source when the substrate is moved in a second direction opposite to the first direction; a third material source which allows deposition of the other of the anode or the cathode; wherein the controller is configured to deposit a plurality of discrete electrode portions on the substrate, the plurality of discrete electrode portions separated by an increasing distance accommodating a location of an expected sharp turn of the substrate when assembled in a wound configuration. a deposition chamber in fluid communication with a first material source and with a second material source wherein the first material source allows deposition of an anode or a cathode, and the second material source allows deposition of an electrolyte; a first gate in fluid communication with the deposition chamber and configured to be maintained under gas and pressure conditions similar to conditions within the deposition chamber; a second gate in fluid communication with the deposition chamber and configured to be maintained under gas and pressure conditions similar to conditions within the deposition chamber; the substrate positioned between two reels and extending through the first gate, the deposition chamber, and the second gate; and a controller configured to rotate the reels in concert to move the substrate in a direction through the deposition chamber while material from the material source is deposited on the substrate wherein the controller is configured to rotate the reels in alternating directions and to instruct the deposition chamber to deposit on the substrate an electrode from the first material source when the substrate is moved in a first direction, and then to deposit on the electrode an electrolyte from the second material source when the substrate is moved in a second direction opposite to the first direction; a third material source which allows deposition of the other of the anode or the cathode; wherein the controller is configured to deposit a plurality of discrete electrode portions on the substrate, the plurality of discrete electrode portions separated by an increasing distance accommodating a location of an expected sharp turn of the substrate when assembled in a wound configuration.