04/18/2018 07:32:00 CEST Manz AG has received an order for a standard production line for the manufacture of laminated lithium-ion pouch battery cells and their battery modules from a European customer in the segment Energy Storage. The batteries will be used for electric forklifts, automated guided vehicle systems and stationary energy storage. The order volume is in the lower double-digit million-euro range. The order will have an impact on revenues and earnings in the fiscal years 2018 and 2019.
The production line consists of a large number of standardized stand-alone machines and modules from the Manz product portfolio which are intelligently interconnected according to customer-specific requirements and processes. Thus, the notching equipment which has been newly developed in the past year is used in the area of cell production and achieves the highest degree of material utilization with the highest operational capacity in the industry. For the fully automated assembly of the individual pouch cells into a battery module, Manz once again relies on the Battery Laser System BLS 500, a platform for the production of lithium-ion batteries which was designed for various laser applications. Since it was launched on the market, the system has already been successfully installed several times for customers from the power tools and automotive sectors.
With its over 30 years of experience in production technology for battery cells and modules, Manz was able to impress with respect to the product quality and safety of the end products manufactured on its equipment in particular. For example, the assembly of cathode, anode and separator by lamination ensures the highest possible cell safety. The perfectly coordinated processes, from roll materials to fully assembled and tested cell stacks guarantee a consistently high product quality in comparison to the classic island solution. After every relevant process step, quality measurement was integrated, so that any waste created during the production can be removed directly in order to prevent the further processing of the defective material. 100 % traceability is guaranteed for all the materials of the cell as a result of the complete interlinking of the production line. This allows Manz to meet all the specifications of European and North American OEMs.
Eckhard Hörner-Marass, CEO of Manz AG, comments: “We are delighted that we have been able to convince another new customer of our expertise. The subject of electromobility is now increasingly gaining momentum – not only in the large mass markets, but also in the individual niche markets. Especially with our new developments in the area of standardized stand-alone equipment and modules, we are able to make a significant contribution to the further development of technology. The first European mass production line for medium-sized and large pouch cells, which we are now equipping with our machinery, is an important step in this context."