European Batteries Oy partners with PEC for its automated cell formation line

European Batteries Oy , founded in 2003, produces large lithium-ion battery systems with a focus on energy, industrial and vehicle sectors. EB provides battery systems from solution development to production, engineering and testing to maintenance.

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European Batteries Oy is investing in new large scale manufacturing facility for high capacity/ power cells in Varkaus, Finland.

Within this new plant, PEC was chosen for the cell formation line. <Martti Ukkonen, CFO European Batteries> “PEC has a very unique and innovative solution for automated forming lithium ion cells. Their system offers substantial operational cost reduction through complete automation and integration of all processes after the electrolyte filling, including the ageing, degassing, grading and sorting of the cells”.

European Batteries works on a tight schedule in this project. The first phase of the factory will start operating during the spring of 2010 and is estimated to employ 60 persons. <Martti Ukkonen, EB> “The standard building blocks approach as well as the experience of PEC not only allows us to achieve all our timing targets but   also reduces the project risk to almost not existing. The main portion of the system is standard available, hereby reducing the needed project engineering to a strict minimum. Our only possible alternative, within the same timeframe, would have been a complete manual system, which was not withheld for obvious reasons. The system design is completely modular allowing European Batteries to extend the line according to their continuously growing needs, without interfering the ever running production <Martti Ukkonen, EB> “The modularity of the system allows us to align our Capital needs and grow the system to our Customers demands.”

Serving the automotive industry not only requires first class products but also puts additional quality requirements such as TS16949 on the table.. <Martti Ukkonen, EB> “The PEC formation system is completely managed by a standard Manufacturing Execution System, which controls all aspects of the line, including flow control, quality control, material handling and even maintenance tasks. The software guarantees an embedded tracking of all cell movements, collected process data, capacity results and grades, with extensive reporting capabilities”
PEC designs, manufactures and supports its solutions from several locations in Europe, the Americas and Asia Pacific.