Manz AG Wins Major Order from Britishvolt for Lithium-Ion Cell Assembly Equipment for Pioneering Gigawatt Production Line
December 21, 2021 at 01:30 am EST
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Manz AG is consistently continuing its strategy of partnership-based growth. As part of a closed cooperation, the company has been assigned by UK battery cell technology developer and manufacturer Britishvolt to implement the first expansion stage for cell-assembly of a production line for the manufacture of lithium-ion battery cells in Northumberland, Northern England. As part of this lighthouse project, Manz already provided support throughout the planning phase of the new production facility at the Cambois site in the Northeast of England. The project is based on an innovative and forward-looking concept that allows a high degree of flexibility and can also be adapted for future market requirements of cell formats and geometries. This strategy significantly improves the performance and cost efficiency of production. Thanks to simultaneous engineering, Manz AG is able to map the entire manufacturing process for Britshvolt's battery cells within a short period of time using customized equipment technology for the assembly of the cylindrical cells. The effects of this approach on time-to-market are correspondingly positive: delivery of the production systems is scheduled for 2023, with production to start as early as the end of the same year. For this first expansion stage with a production capacity of 4 GWh, the order volume is over EUR 70 million. The project will have an impact on sales and earnings in 2022 and 2023. In a jointly signed Memorandum of Understanding, the two companies also agree to further expand their strategic cooperation in order to be able to implement the ambitious growth plans of Britishvolt quickly and efficiently. Within the framework of the cooperation, the realization of further lines for cylindrical and prismatic cells is planned both in England and in Canada. These are intended to increase Britishvolt's total production capacity to well over 100 GWh.
Manz AG is a Germany-based company engaged in manufacturing high-tech equipment. The Company's business activities are divided into five segments: Solar, Electronics, Energy Storage, Contract Manufacturing, and Service. The Company specializes in automation, vision and metrology, laser processing, wet chemistry, and roll-to-roll processes. It offers manufacturers and their suppliers manufacturing solutions in the areas of photovoltaics, electronics and lithium-ion battery technology. The Company's product portfolio includes both customer-specific developments and standardized machines and modules that can be linked together to form individual system solutions. The Company operates globally, with development and production facilities in Germany, Slovakia, Hungary, Italy, China and Taiwan, as well as sales and service branches in the United States and India.