Kuka secures contract worth ‘millions’ to supply automation technology to manufacture battery packs

Kuka, one of the world’s largest industrial automation companies, says it has secured a contract “worth millions” in the future-oriented market of electro-mobility.

Kuka says it won the contract for the planning and supply of a fully automated battery pack line. It adds that it is a “major double-digit million euro order”.

Starting 2021, battery systems for fully electric vehicles in the premium segment will be manufactured in this production facility, which will feature at least 50 Kuka robots.

Peter Mohnen, CEO of Kuka, says: “Electro-mobility is absolutely a global market of the future.

“We are proud that Kuka wins out in this sector with its comprehensive expertise and experience in the automation of battery production, and that we are able to support our customers in the automotive industry by turning e-mobility into a reality.”

The electro-mobility market is growing at a rapid pace. And the production of battery packs is a particular challenge.

Kuka claims it has “comprehensive expertise” in this area and is delivering a fully automated production system to an international automotive supplier.

Not only the demanding process steps required for assembly, but also the high capacity and technical availability, the quality requirements and systematic acquisition of all relevant process data pose special challenges to this “state-of-the-art and future-oriented production line”.

Kuka is implementing its technological know-how as well as over 50 Kuka industrial robots to meet these demands, encompassing:

• the supply, cleaning and measuring of the battery frames;
• checking the battery modules to be installed;
• application of the thermal compound;
• assembling and fastening the individual modules in the battery frame;
• electrical contacting;
• sealing and screwing on the housing cover; and
• the leak test and quality inspection at the end of the line.

Owing to the high importance and safety relevance of the battery systems, especially the traceability of the installed components and individual manufacturing steps in battery production are becoming ever more crucial.

Kuka’s extensive portfolio centered on the “digital factory” offers key advantages. Kuka’s miKUKA control standard provides an efficient technology platform ensuring simple and transparent operator control and monitoring of the line via the user interface.