Dürr supplies Cellforce with highly efficient technology

Press Release Oct 11, 2021

Electromobility

Bietigheim-Bissingen, October 11, 2021—The Dürr Group has received a strategically important order in the growth area of battery cells for electric cars. A system for coating electrodes for high-performance battery cells will be supplied to the German battery manufacturer Cellforce Group. A special process is used for the simultaneous coating of both electrode sides. Dürr is one of the few suppliers of this technology, which can be used to increase efficiency and quality.

The Cellforce Group is a joint venture between sports car manufacturer Porsche and battery specialist Customcells. The equipment ordered from Dürr is intended for a new factory in Germany. It is to be used initially in prototype development for high-performance cells from 2022 and in series production from 2024. The value of the order for Dürr’s Clean Technology Systems division is in the low double-digit million-euro range.

“The partnership with Cellforce underlines the attractiveness of our product range. We have highly efficient technology at our disposal and, as a system provider, we can implement complete coating lines. We will make every effort to provide Cellforce with optimum support in the development and production of high-performance cells with high energy density,” says Dr. Jochen Weyrauch, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Management of Dürr AG and responsible for the Group’s automotive and coating business.

In electrode coating, anode material is applied on one side of a thin metal foil and cathode material on the other. The special feature of Dürr’s technology is that the two sides are not coated one after the other, but simultaneously. This accelerates the process, increases precision and quality, and allows to make better use of the valuable material. In order to achieve an environmentally friendly operation of the coating line, Dürr also supplies equipment for exhaust air purification and for a solvent recovery of more than 99%.

The technology for the two-sided coating of electrodes was developed by Dürr’s US subsidiary Megtec, which was acquired in 2018. The process is used by several reputable battery and automobile manufacturers.

“Cell production for lithium-ion batteries is a promising growth market. In order to accelerate the shift toward sustainable electromobility, production capacities for cells must be expanded. That is why further extensive investments in new factories will be made. With our complete range for coating processes, we are excellently positioned for this,” says Dr. Jochen Weyrauch.

According to a recent study by Landesbank Baden-Württemberg, the share of battery vehicles in global car sales is expected to increase from the latest figure of 3% in 2020 to 13% in 2025 and almost 30% in 2030. The number of available battery-powered vehicle models is expected to rise from just over 200 in 2020 to almost 400 in 2023. This will require a considerable expansion of cell production. According to estimates by the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research, cell production capacity in Europe will grow to around 600 GWh by 2025. This is enough to equip around 10 million battery cars. In 2030, production capacity is expected to reach approximately 800 GWh.

Press photos

Dr. Jochen Weyrauch (CEO of Dürr AG) — **Dr. Jochen Weyrauch**
Deputy CEO of Dürr AG

Electrode coating — Battery cell production is a growth market: Dürr will supply a system for coating electrodes for high-performance battery cells to the Cellforce Group. A special process will be used for the simultaneous coating of both electrode sides. The Cellforce Group is a joint venture between sports car manufacturer Porsche and battery specialist Customcells.

Coating process at Dürr — Battery cell production is a growth market: Dürr will supply a system for coating electrodes for high-performance battery cells to the Cellforce Group. A special process will be used for the simultaneous coating of both electrode sides. The Cellforce Group is a joint venture between sports car manufacturer Porsche and battery specialist Customcells.

About Dürr

The Dürr Group is one of the world's leading mechanical and plant engineering firms with extensive expertise in automation and digitalization/Industry 4.0. Its products, systems and services enable highly efficient and resource-saving manufacturing processes in different industries. The Dürr Group supplies sectors like the automotive industry, mechanical engineering, chemical, pharmaceutical, medical technology and woodworking industries. It generated sales of € 3.32 billion in 2020. The company has more than 17,000 employees and 121 business locations in 33 countries. Since February 2021, the majority-owned automation specialist Teamtechnik has also been part of the Group. The Dürr Group operates in the market with the brands Dürr, Schenck and HOMAG and with five divisions:

Paint and Final Assembly Systems: paint shops as well as final assembly, testing and filling technology for the automotive industry, assembly and test systems for medical devices
Application Technology: robot technologies for the automated application of paint, sealants and adhesives
Clean Technology Systems: air pollution control, noise abatement systems and coating systems for battery electrodes
Measuring and Process Systems: balancing equipment and diagnostic technology
Woodworking Machinery and Systems: machinery and equipment for the woodworking industry

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