ABB and Gotion High-Tech have agreed to cooperate on the construction of large-scale battery factories to serve the European and US EV markets. ABB will collaborate with Gotion to supply a master design plan combining automation, electrification and digital technologies.

Gotion High-Tech, in which Volkswagen has a 26.5 percent stake, is set to open a $2-billion battery plant in Illinois, and is also considering building a factory in Morocco.

Each of the companies stands to benefit from the expertise of the other. ABB may provide Gotion with “a range of physical equipment, solutions and digital assets for adaptive machine and line automation, transportation and handling of materials, as well as line management and server and client hardware to help control material flows within the plant.” In turn, ABB will explore the potential use of Gotion’s products for “a wide range of industrial applications, including in marine, traction, microgrids, high, medium and low voltage, and renewables.”

ABB says its Plant Optimization Methodology for battery manufacturing would increase throughput at Gotion’s factories, delivering better automation, optimization and emission control. Meanwhile, ABB’s electrification would provide Gotion with integrated, modular power distribution solutions.

“Our partnership with ABB will lead to a position where we can contribute towards the significantly high demand of electric vehicles in Europe and the US,” said Li Zhen, Chairman of Gotion. “ABB’s approaches are proven to scale up operations quickly while ensuring safety and environmental responsibility are addressed at every stage.”

“This is a new milestone for ABB in battery manufacturing where we will be partnering with Gotion High-Tech for the development of their large-scale battery factories,” said Staffan Sodergard, Business Unit Manager, Battery Manufacturing, Process Industries, ABB. “As the demand for electric vehicles continues to grow, manufacturing of batteries en masse remains a top priority.”

Source: ABB