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Comau announces participation in BATTWIN project, tasked with reaching zero defects for EV battery production

May 21, 2024

Comau has announced its participation in the BATTwin project, a pan-European initiative focused on e-Mobility development.

The project aims to develop a Multi-level Digital Twin platform to reduce defect rates in Lithium-Ion battery production. Comau’s role will involve identifying and defining crucial data parameters, hardware, software, and digitalization technologies to achieve zero-defect cell production. The company will also implement a multi-sensor data acquisition and management strategy to enhance battery cell manufacturing quality.

The BATTwin project, funded by the European Commission under the Horizon Europe research and innovation program, is coordinated by Prof. Marcello Colledani from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano. The project’s goal is to reduce defect rates, which could reach up to 30% during the ramp-up phase of Europe’s new Gigafactories. The digitalized virtual environment developed will be deployed and tested in-field to validate its flexibility, scalability, and overall effectiveness.

Comau will use its expertise in digitalization, digital twinning, process simulation, and electrification to enable automatic data acquisition and transmission to a cloud-based virtual environment. The company will also perform Discrete Event Simulation (DES) modeling at a production level and develop a digital twin for the production system design and re-design. This will allow cell manufacturers to optimize their workflow, analyze cycle times, prevent bottlenecks, and manage both energy consumption and manufacturing performance at a machine level.

Comau is also partnering with Upcell – European Battery Manufacturing Alliance, an association that promotes the creation of an integrated European value chain for the development and production of electric batteries. Comau is also actively involved in various industry alliances, including three of Europe’s top battery consortiums: European Battery Alliance (EBA), the Batteries European Partnership Association (BEPA), and the European Technology and Innovation Platform (ETIP). The company participates in numerous other projects regarding electrification as part of the HORIZON 2020 and HORIZON EUROPE programs.