Battery cell production with NORD: Straight to efficiency

With UNICASE helical bevel geared motors and NORDAC FLEX frequency inverters, NORD ensures high product quality in the calendering process. Image: NORD DRIVESYSTEMS

With energy-efficient low-contamination components

More efficiency, more process stability: Two requirements that play a decisive role in the complex battery cell production process. NORD DRIVESYSTEMS supports the industry with tailor-made drive solutions with which manufacturers can have their total cost of ownership under control. This includes energy-efficient low-contamination components. 

According to the International Energy Agency, in order to achieve the climate targets determined at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), the energy storage capacity has to increase sixfold to 1,500 GW between 2023 and 2030. Here, batteries will constitute 1,200 GW. This requires the battery cell production to increase production quantities without compromising quality and cost efficiency. Not an easy matter given the various highly sensitive and energy-intensive process steps. One aspect includes drive solutions that ensure stable and cost-efficient production processes. NORD supports OEMs and system operators along the entire process chain with complete solutions from a single source.

High output in continuously high quality
One example includes drive solutions for the calendering process that plays an important role when it comes to the quality of the electrode. In this process step, the active material is rolled using a role-to-role method, getting its electrochemical properties. Here, NORD components ensure consistently high rolling forces that are decisive for the product quality. The UNICASE helical bevel geared motor achieves torques of up to 50,000 Nm and provides a wide ratio range. The decentralised NORDAC FLEX frequency inverter ensures the save and even power transfer to the rollers. It is characterised by high compatibility and scalable functions making it flexibly adjustable to different applications.

On demand, NORD equips its components with a self-developed coating to protect the sensitive material against contamination, especially in the lithium battery cell production. It does completely without copper, zinc and several other non-ferrous metals. Furthermore, galvanised components such as screws, washers or oil filler caps can be replaced by corrosion-resistant V4A stainless steel. The resulting drive systems significantly minimise the risk of ionisation between cathode and anode material and the drives.

Efficiency for energy-intensive process steps
Above all, users benefit from the efficient NORD solutions when it comes to expensive process steps such as drying the electrodes. This includes the highly efficient IE5+ synchronous motor with worldwide certifications. Its efficiency surpasses the highest defined energy efficiency class and remains unchanged across the entire adjustment range. It can thus not only increase the conveyor system’s overall efficiency but also provides the possibility of variant reduction, significantly contributing to the reduction of the total cost of ownership.

Ensuring high availability
Whether blending the input material or forming the finished batteries: The durable drive solutions from NORD ensure reliability of the production plants even under demanding conditions such as large temperature ranges or high axial and radial forces. The IIoT solution NORD DRIVE MONITOR surveys all status data in condition monitoring. Finally, the industry benefits from the solution provider’s proven strengths: With the modular product system and the process expertise in more than 100 industries, NORD develops precisely tailored and scalable drive concepts, while ensuring short delivery times and fast service thanks to its network comprising 80 countries.