Three German industrial leaders – Dürr, Grob, and Manz – have established Europe’s first comprehensive partnership for lithium-ion battery production systems. The alliance combines their complementary expertise to offer complete solutions spanning electrode manufacturing to pack assembly, positioning themselves as a European alternative to Asian battery equipment suppliers. Their collaborative concept factory, debuted at this year’s Battery Show Europe in Stuttgart, demonstrates fully automated production with optimized process integration and digitalization.
Integrated Production with Digital Backbone
The partners have developed their concept factory through six dedicated workstreams focusing on maximizing system efficiency. A key differentiator is the seamless integration of digital technologies, including Dürr subsidiary iTAC’s manufacturing execution system (MES). This provides end-to-end visibility across production processes, enabling real-time monitoring, quality traceability, and data-driven optimization. The digital integration reduces energy consumption and factory footprint while improving overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) – critical factors in cost-competitive battery manufacturing.
Streamlined Solutions for Battery Makers
The alliance’s first commercial project, already underway, delivers a unified system for electrode production and cell assembly. By offering integrated solutions from three established vendors, battery manufacturers benefit from pre-optimized interfaces and single-point accountability. This approach eliminates the integration challenges typically faced when combining equipment from multiple suppliers, significantly reducing project complexity and risk for customers establishing new production capacity.
European Supply Chain Advantages
With most required technologies now covered by the partnership, European battery producers gain access to localized expertise and shorter supply chains. The partners leverage decades of experience in precision manufacturing, automation, and industrial project execution – capabilities previously dominated by Asian equipment providers. Their combined supplier network and standardized project management methodologies aim to deliver faster, more reliable production line deployments compared to multi-vendor alternatives.
Sustainable Manufacturing Focus
The collaboration emphasizes energy-efficient production designs that align with Europe’s sustainability goals for battery manufacturing. The concept factory demonstrates how digital integration and process optimization can minimize resource consumption while maintaining high throughput. As the partnership matures, the companies plan to expand their joint offerings to support the growing demand for locally produced battery cells across automotive and energy storage applications.
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