DGAP-News: Manz AG / Key word(s): Alliance
Manz AG and GROB agree on strategic cooperation in the field of lithium-ion battery systems
2021-04-08 / 07:30
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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Manz AG and GROB agree on strategic cooperation in the field of lithium-ion battery systems
. Cooperation focusing on production solutions for lithium-ion battery cells and modules as well as for the assembly
of battery packs for e-mobility
. Combination of Manz and GROB's technology portfolio enables innovative, integrated turnkey solutions, from
electrode coating to pack assembly
. Strategic cooperation with the aim of becoming the leading European supplier in the field of fully comprehensive
production solutions for lithium-ion battery systems
Reutlingen / Mindelheim, April 8, 2021 - Manz AG and GROB-WERKE GmbH & Co. KG have entered into a strategic cooperation
in the field of lithium-ion battery systems. As part of the partnership, the companies plan to set innovative machine
standards "made in Europe". This will combine market and customer access and bundle technical expertise. From now on,
the companies will be able to offer the complete production process for manufacturing lithium-ion battery cells and
modules, from coating the electrode material to pack assembly, from a single source and fully integrated. For
customers, the holistic view results in significant competitive advantages in terms of efficiency, performance and
safety of their battery cells and modules. The primary goal is a high-quality standard, stability, and cost efficiency
by reducing friction losses while maintaining a high level of integration. The common goal of Manz and GROB is to
establish themselves as the leading European supplier of production solutions in the field of lithium-ion battery
systems with a clear focus on the upcoming needs of electromobility.
Manz AG brings to the cooperation its decades of experience in essential production steps for the manufacture of
different lithium-ion cell types and their assembly into a battery module, from wound button cells to prismatic cells
and stacked pouch cells. For more than 90 years GROB has been a pioneer in the construction of production and
automation systems and has been convincing with its implementation strength in the conception, planning and
commissioning of highly complex and customer-specific systems for mass production, especially for the automotive
industry, with a strong focus on e-mobility in the past 5 years.
Martin Drasch, CEO of Manz AG, comments: "Manz has positioned itself excellently in the battery market. We see
outstanding opportunities to take advantage from the dynamic development of e-mobility - which is why we have focused
our business model accordingly. We are absolutely convinced that, based on the trend-setting cooperation with GROB, we
have added another important building block to fully tap the enormous market potential, especially for scaled and
efficient production solutions in the GWh range. The fact that this consistent orientation makes sense is underlined
not least by the recently received funding commitment from the European Commission for the further development of
lithium-ion battery technology as part of the so-called IPCEI (Important Project of Common European Interest) "EuBatIn
- European Batteries Innovation". GROB's expertise combined with our technological know-how makes it possible to
further accelerate and market the development of innovative, flexible technologies and solutions in the field of
electromobility."
German Wankmiller, Chairman of the Management Board of the GROB Group, added: "We are delighted to be cooperating with
such a renowned mechanical engineering company as Manz. In a very short time, the family-owned company GROB has built
up comprehensive knowledge in machinery as well as equipment and process technology for the entire e-mobility portfolio
and is now the world market leader in the manufacture of production systems for e-drives. At the same time, process
knowledge for battery modules with pouch and hardcase cells has been developed in battery storage technologies with a
focus on systems engineering, and several large-scale plants have already been delivered. As a further consistent step,
GROB has also started the development of equipment technology to produce battery cells. Through our cooperation with
Manz, we see ourselves in an even better position and can realize large-scale plants for the international automotive
manufacturers and their suppliers in a short time. This allows us to offer solutions from a single source along the
entire value chain, from coating to pack assembly. As a result, our customers enjoy benefits such as high throughput,
low production costs and maximum innovative strength."
Company profiles:
Manz AG - passion for efficiency
Founded in 1987, Manz AG is a globally active high-tech engineering company. Its business activities comprise the
Solar, Electronics, Energy Storage, Contract Manufacturing and Service segments.
With many years of expertise in automation, laser processing, image processing and metrology, wet chemistry and
roll-to-roll processes, the company offers manufacturers and their suppliers innovative production solutions in the
fields of photovoltaics, electronics and lithium-ion battery technology. The product portfolio includes both
customer-specific developments and standardized individual machines and modules that can be interlinked to form
complete, individual systems. Above all, by involving Manz AG in customer projects at an early stage, the company makes
a significant contribution to its customers' success with high-quality, demand-oriented solutions.
The group of companies, which has been listed in Germany since 2006, develops and produces in Germany, Slovakia,
Hungary, Italy, China and Taiwan. There are also sales and service subsidiaries in the USA and India. Manz AG currently
employs around 1,400 people worldwide, around half of whom work in Asia, the key region for the company's target
industries. The Manz Group's revenues amounted to around 237 million euros in the 2020 fiscal year.
GROB-WERKE GmbH & Co. KG - Driven by E-motion
For over 90 years, GROB has been active as a globally operating family company in the development and manufacture of
systems and machine tools. Its customers include the most renowned automotive manufacturers, their suppliers and
companies from a wide range of industries. With five production plants in Germany (headquarters), the USA, Brazil,
China and Italy, as well as 15 worldwide service and sales subsidiaries, GROB is internationally positioned. Worldwide,
the GROB Group generates an output of 1.1 billion euros (FY 20/21) with 6,800 employees.
The portfolio ranges from 4- and 5-axis universal machining centers and highly complex manufacturing systems with their
own automation to production lines for electric motors and assembly lines for battery and fuel cell technology.
The specially developed GROB-NET^4Industry software for digitizing and networking production plants rounds off the GROB
product portfolio.
Contact
Manz AG
Axel Bartmann
Tel.: +49 (0)7121 - 9000-395
Fax: +49 (0)7121 - 9000-99
E-mail: abartmann@manz.com
GROB-WERKE GmbH & Co.KG
Klaus Eberts
Tel.: +49 (0)8261 - 996-370
E-mail: klaus.eberts@grob.de
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2021-04-08 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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Language: English
Company: Manz AG
Steigäckerstr. 5
72768 Reutlingen
Germany
Phone: +49 (0) 7121 9000-0
Fax: +49 (0) 7121 9000-99
E-mail: info@manz.com
Internet: http://www.manz.com
ISIN: DE000A0JQ5U3
WKN: A0JQ5U
Listed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf,
Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange
EQS News ID: 1181979
End of News DGAP News Service
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1181979 2021-04-08
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
April 08, 2021 01:30 ET (05:30 GMT)