The UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) has today revealed that Echion Technologies, which develops world-leading niobium anodes for Li-ion batteries, has become the first company to use its new Flexible Pilot Line (FPL).

The FPL bridges the gap between lab-scale research and full-scale production. It offers organisations a more cost-effective and agile route to market than UKBIC’s larger Industrial Scale-up Line (ISL).

Sean Gilgunn, UKBIC’s Managing Director, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Echion onto the FPL as the line’s first user. They’re an exciting company and a perfect example of the sort of business that’ll be able to benefit most from the FPL.

“We’ve got more customers lined up – and expect the FPL to be very popular – and are looking forward to working closely with Echion as they look to develop their technology further.”

Echion will supply materials which will be used by UKBIC to manufacture anode based on Echion’s own design. Engineers from the company will work alongside UKBIC’s expert teams to see how the FPL can be used to speed up the process and reduce risk when helping them take their technology from pilot scale towards commercial production.

Phillip Johns, Head of Cell Development, added: “UKBIC’s FPL is perfect for our needs in that it’s quick, easy and comparatively inexpensive to produce anode at a scale we require.

“We’re excited to be the first company on the line and are keen to see what the FPL can do.”

The FPL is the latest addition to UKBIC’s suite of battery manufacturing capabilities, enabling quicker iteration and more adaptable electrode development for customers across the battery supply chain. These include the Battery Development Laboratory (BDL), the Cell Cycling facility, and the Clean and Dry Zone.

To find out more about FPL, go to https://www.ukbic.co.uk/flexible-pilot-line Alternatively, to download the brochure, click here https://www.ukbic.co.uk/publications

Ends

Notes to editors:

To arrange an interview or to request photography please email richard.robinson@ukbic.co.uk or phone +44 (0) 7503 628892

UKBIC –

UKBIC is the UK’s national manufacturing development facility, providing scale-up, laboratory expertise, and module and pack assembly, and helping develop skills to support the sector. 

With its Giga-scale equipment, and newly installed Flexible Pilot Line, battery technologies can be manufactured from electrode and cell materials through to battery modules and packs, providing the link between prototype scale, university-scale demonstrator lines, and mass production.

UKBIC has two house cell designs, a 21700 cylindrical and a 300 x 100 mm pouch, which customers can use as a guide to further develop and scale their own technologies.

The open access facility – which doesn’t take a share of our clients’ IP – has numerous capabilities, including a Battery Development Laboratory, a flexible Clean and Dry Zone, cell cyclers, as well as specialist, bespoke training programmes for organisations.

UKBIC is part of the Battery Innovation Programme, an initiative delivered by UK Research and Innovation UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and funded through the Department of Business and Trade.

Construction of the facility was part-funded through the West Midlands Combined Authority and was delivered through a consortium of Coventry City Council, Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership and WMG, at the University of Warwick.

Echion Technologies Ltd -

Echion Technologies LTD (Cambridge, UK) supplies its world-leading niobium-based anode material, XNO®, to cell manufacturers looking to build lithium-ion batteries with market-leading safety, cycle-life, and fast-charging capabilities. Batteries powered by XNO® can charge safely in less than 10 minutes, achieve high energy densities and a cycle life of more than 10,000 cycles. 

The differentiated performance enabled by XNO® helps cell manufacturers gain a technical and commercial advantage in high-value, fast-growing markets where end-users require the highest safety, lowest total cost of ownership, and highest productivity. This includes industrial and commercial e-mobility markets such as rail, marine, mining and other off-highway vehicles, opportunity-charging e-buses and material handling equipment.

Technical details about the FPL

MIXING

INTENSIVE

Two independent small-scale lines

Mix Batch size: 15-40L (dependent on material densities)

Semi-automated material preparation and filling

Ability to handle conventional LIB solvents (up to low flash point materials)

Manual and automated slurry decanting

Degassing following slurry discharge

EXTRUSION

Maximum continuous throughput: 20L/Hr

Conventional anode and cathode slurry capability

Readiness for solvent-free development work

Use of Intensive mixing lines for semi-automated material preparation and filling

ELECTRODE PROCESS DEVELOPMENT AREA (EPDA)

Small-scale mixing equipment capable

Batch Size: 1-10L (slurry and ceramic mixing)

Roll to roll coater with 1m dryer for proof of concept, slot die development work

Continuous coating only

Maximum coating width: 305mm

COATING AND DRYING

Single-side coating with various coating technologies, including slot die

Maximum coating width (technology dependant): 290-305mm

Maximum foil width: 320mm

Unwinding technologies: Corona Treatment, two slot die positions, pre IR drying, foil and wet coat weight measurement, intermittent coating module

Drying tunnel: 6m in 1m zones using convection drying

Drying environment: fan and temperature speeds per zone individually controllable

Maximum drying temperature: 180°C

Humidity of drying air controlled by independent dehumidifier (ambient to -40°C dew point)

Rewinding technologies: QR marking, surface and dimensional inspection, dry coat weight measurement, cooling roller

CALENDERING

Roll-to-roll calender with heated rollers

Max electrode width: 430mm

Unwinding technologies: Electrode cleaning, edge trim functionality, pre calender web heating (IR and Induction), S-Wrap angle to calender via lower calender roll

Rewinding technologies: post calender web heating (IR and induction), surface inspection, web thickness inspection

SLITTING

Roll-to-roll slitting machine

Maximum electrode width: 500mm

LABORATORY



Performance assessment of FPL and ISL materials

Small-scale cell assembly

Available cell formats:

·       2032 coin cell (single layer)

·       Multilayer pouch cell

·       Cathode: 56mm x 43mm

·       Anode: 58mm x 45mm