BATMACHINE

ABSTRACT

The core vision of the BATMACHINE project is centred on strengthening Europe’s battery cell industrial manufacturing value chain by developing new battery cell manufacturing machinery. This is done whilst giving priority to minimising the energy energy for cells production, enhancing plant efficiency rates and integrating intelligent control processes to reduce scrap. BATMACHINE will develop and implement an optimised and energy-efficient process chain considering:

• Slurry mixing (automated modular process set-up including monitoring techniques);
• Exclusive slot-die coating and drying novel machinery (with one side coating, a coating speed of 1m/min up to 20m/min and a web-width of 300 mm);
• Together with a calendaring tool to be integrated in a battery manufacturer for process optimisation.

Moreover, intelligent control processes and Industry 4.0 will be intensively integrated through the creation of a collaborative and FAIR data space for battery production. Digital interfaces between battery manufacturing equipment, control system, and engineers will be developed with the aim of building universal digitalisation tools to enhance the battery production and create a battery passport. The environmental and economic impact of different machinery, production line configurations and factory designs will be deeply studied to reduce the cost and energy consumption of manufacturing processes.

AIM (WHAT)

The demand for a next-generation battery manifacturing that relies on sustainable techniques is increasing, coupled with a growing need to strengthen Europe’s battery cell industrial manifacturing value chain. In order to meet these needs, the BATMACHINE project has set six ambitious goals, which include: (i) the development of new battery cell manufacturing machinery that would reduce energy consumption and maximise efficiency rates; (ii) the implementation of intelligent control processes that minimise costs and environmental impact; (iii) the optimisation of the battery manufacturing process through the integration of low-carbon and low-emission energy sources; (iv) the integration of ecological standards that will ensure the overall sustainability of future battery manufacturing sites; (v) the development of a horizontal integration procedure of the European supply chain for battery process equipment into the growing production of giga-scale battery cells; and (vi) the stimulation of collaborations between industry, academia, and relevant stakeholders in the battery field. 

METHODOLOGY (HOW)

The overall methodology of BATMACHINE will include the five high-level stages of preparation, machinery, integration, optimization, and up scaling. Preparation will involve the managament and coordination of the project. Machinery will involve the steps of development, testing, and digitalization. Integration will be characterised by the physical integration of all machines into a single operating site. At the stage of Optimization, an analysis and validation of the full cell production line will take place. Finally, Up Scaling will involve the assessment of the potential upscaling towards Gigafactory levels.

IMPACT (WHY)

The BATMACHINE project will introduce digitalisation in the full battery production line. It will foster understanding of the environmental, social, and economic impacts of different machinery, and it will result in the development and exchange of high-quality guidelines on how to scale up a battery production line. As such, the project will accelerate and steer the digital and green transitions, while also substantially contributing to the goal of making Europe the first digitally-enabled circular, climate-neutral and sustainable economy.