Comau, a top player in the industrial automation sector, has won a public tender called by the Slovenian National Institute of Chemistry to develop innovative solutions in the industrialization of flexible machines for electrical activation and testing battery cells.

Flexible, advanced technologies for electrical activation and testing of cells are invariably more important within the ever-changing industrial scenario of batteries. Launched last June, Comau’s project with the Slovenian National Institute of Chemistry is expected to be completed by the end of 2025 with the aim of covering the entire supply, from design to installation and through to commissioning, for the industrialization of flexible machines that handle both electrical activation and testing of various cell formats, both pouch and prismatic.

The testing capability is extended to various cell formats that must cover a wide range of working temperatures, from ambient to sub-zero conditions.
“One of the most challenging aspects, which is also a crucial component of the initiative, is the management of a diverse range of cells of various sizes, including from external sources. To achieve this, Comau has designed specific and flexible tools for safe handling and reliable connection. Both can be integrated with climate chambers for precise temperature control and advanced power electronics to ensure optimal current levels,” Comau explained.


Also crucial was the design of machines with the appropriate level of automation: in every aspect of the configuration, safety must be considered the priority, both in terms of materials to be handled and overall accessibility and maintenance. It is u example of this is the absence of manual connections between the equipment and the climatic chambers, so that the operator can easily and safely configure the tools according to the products to be processed. Comau also designed a sophisticated software interface to enable operators to control processes and enter specific parameters efficiently.


“Comau’s multidisciplinary expertise and cutting-edge technologies range from batteries to electric motors, from electric cell activation to innovative hairpin stator technologies. This broad technology offering demonstrates our commitment to helping drive the evolution of electric mobility by ensuring high-performance, reliable and sustainable solutions at every stage of our customers’ manufacturing process,” said Andrew Lloyd, Comau’s Chief Engineering Officer.