The Italian plant manufacturer Comau was commissioned by the battery manufacturer Automotive Cells Company (ACC) to develop a battery module production line for the future Gigafactory in Billy-Bercalu.

Flexible production lines in module production

By the end of 2024, ACC would like to be able to produce up to eight gigawatt hours a year of the flexible production lines to be developed, which are to be designed for both 8-cell and 16-cell modules. A total of five production lines are planned, three of which will produce both models, while two will be dedicated to the production of the 8-cell MEB lines.

New challenges in production

According to the company, one of the most important criteria of the project is the implementation of a stacking force of 3,000-5,000 Newtons for the production of two different module shapes in comparison to the usual commercial average of approx. 1000 Newtons.

The fully automated production process includes prismatic cell preparation and testing, stacking and welding, as well as final assembly and final testing at the end of production. The entire installation relies on Comau's stack construction combined with welding, encapsulation and electrical testing technologies.

Sources:

https://www.comau.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/PR_ACC_Comau_DE.pdf