The pouch kit will join the cylindrical cell assembly equipment which has already been fitted to provide expanded capabilities for UKBIC’s smaller development line.

The new equipment was built by Digatron at its factory near Verona in Italy and is currently being fitted in its bespoke space at the facility, which is located in Coventry.

Once complete, the FPL will be able to not only produce high quality electrode but also a range of cell formats, namely 220x115 pouch, tabbed and tabless 21700 cylindrical, and 4695 cylindrical. It is expected the first customers will be able to use the cell assembly kit from the Autumn.

Richard LeCain, Chief Technology Officer at UKBIC, said: "Getting the pouch kit in is the final step in FPL construction, and we can now concentrate on testing and commissioning for both of our new assembly lines.

“The new equipment will play an important role in helping organisations de-risk scale-up and accelerate the commercialisation of new battery technologies and will be open to smaller organisations than currently use our larger line."

UKBIC already has cell assembly capability on its Industrial Scale-up Line, offering customers 21700 tabbed cylindrical or 300x100 pouch cells at volume.