TURIN, Italy—Comau has designed and developed a high-volume lithium-ion battery production line for Leclanché, a leading manufacturer of large-format energy storage devices used in commercial vehicle, marine and rail applications.
The highly automated line features state-of-the-art laser welders, robots and vision systems. It also uses artificial intelligence technology to perform quality and process control applications, such as automated in-line validation of joints.
The flexible manufacturing system consists of three automated and semiautomated stages within a compact environment that is capable of handling the entire battery manufacturing process, from pouch cell stacking and welding to final assembly. It features LHYTE, Comau’s cutting-edge hybrid laser system, in addition to a proprietary vision system that automatically validates the electrical and mechanical resistance of each welded point.
The production line will enable Leclanché to produce up to six times the company’s current capacity, reaching an output of more than 60,000 modules per year. It will also reduce costs by up to 20 percent, while supporting 50 different product configurations.
“We are pleased to work with Leclanché to support their automation journey and expand their production potential,” says Andrew Lloyd, segment leader for diversified automation systems and electromobility at Comau. “The success of this project is a direct result of our customer-centric approach to simultaneous engineering. It also highlights [our] continued investments aimed at further strengthening our ability to meet the growing market demand for high-quality battery and energy storage solutions.”