“We support manufacturers along the entire value chain, from battery cells and battery pack systems through to the final assembly of battery-powered vehicles. Services such as engineering, assembly line maintenance, pre-assembly resources, and supply logistics are key focus areas for us,” states Henry Kohlstruck, Executive President Division Europe of Leadec.
More than 20 new plants, commissioned by European, Asiatic, and American manufacturers, are currently under construction across Europe for battery cell production, the demands on which are clear: sustainability within the supply chain, local proximity to vehicle assembly plants, CO₂-neutral production, access to qualified personnel, knowledge of local legislation, and a rapid ramp-up curve. These demands call for specialized, technical service providers, with the requisite expertise in e-mobility and modern factory organization.
Experience in battery production
Leadec has numerous references in battery production, as a result of projects in Germany, Poland, and the USA. In Kamenz near Dresden, for example, highly developed lithium-ion batteries for plug-in hybrids and purely electric vehicles are under construction for a subsidiary of Daimler AG. Within just a few months, Leadec planned and implemented an operator concept here for the preassembly of various battery pack housings. The innovative supply concept comprises just-in-sequence delivery as well as empties and quality management.
“By providing an upstream component assembly service, we are playing a key role in reducing the time-to-market for manufacturers,” explains Henry Kohlstruck. “This leaves the customer completely free to concentrate on setting up their assembly lines for high-voltage batteries. But once production is up and running, other challenges arise directly.”
Leadec is the first service provider in Europe to manage the maintenance of battery lines at two locations. The service includes production maintenance for assembly lines on which batteries are mounted and for the associated automated guided vehicles.
With 450 participating companies, the Battery Show Europe is the largest exhibition of suppliers operating within the battery industry in Europe. In addition to materials, cells, test solutions, components, and other products, the show will also feature new services. By outsourcing individual process steps in the value chain to external service providers, manufacturers can focus all their attention on core competencies and also gain greater flexibility.
