The talk explores essential strategies for scaling battery manufacturing effectively, highlighting innovations in technology, supply chain optimization, workforce development, and sustainable practices. 

American market for gigafactory scale-up. In this talk, we will touch on key success factors for achieving competitiveness in the battery equipment industry, including competitive portfolio, performance, cost efficiency, execution excellence, and track records.

Battery pack manufacturing is a key step in the downstream value chain. It has evolved as the product designs have evolved and presents new and emerging challenges. This presentation will cover the challenges of battery pack manufacturing, ranging from volumes, product variation, and supply chain management, and then look at the future of pack manufacturing from integrating new processes, AI, cybersecurity, and automation.

The critical path on new gigafactory construction projects is often the design and delivery of long lead equipment—especially process manufacturing equipment. If you're a supplier, ever wondered how your design process impacts the overall construction schedule? EPC companies cannot usually share that information but today we'll discuss real examples that caused projects delays and how we can all help the battery industry complete projects on schedule.

Battery cost continues to be a limiting factor in transitioning to an EV driven world. Quality verification tools are key to lowering cost in the cell, module, and pack value chains. Process complexity and low rework-ability amplify the impact of test methods on the bottom line. This talk will discuss recent manufacturing quality system research initiatives within General Motors targeted at improving battery manufacturing while enabling an EV future.

Amid the ongoing discussion of the EV market slowdown, an increasing number of cell manufacturing plants are being put on hold or even canceled. This presentation examines why emerging Western manufacturers are facing such challenges during their cell ramp-up and production, while Asian competitors, particularly from China, steadily advance. It further elaborates the relevance of switching to next-gen production technologies in this highly competitive industry and how it might impact production processes, ramp-ups and production excellence. Furthermore, key factors such as operational excellence incl. OEE and scrap rate performances as well as market shifts will be analyzed and discussed. Conclusively, key takeaways for Western value chain participants to improve battery cell production output and to reduce time-to-market will be given in order to be competitive on the market.

New battery factories are ramping to full-time production. The industry is gaining experience on the life of the original equipment components used in the mixing and rolling processes. Linde Advanced Material Technologies has a portfolio of surface treatments to protect these components against wear and corrosion to retain product quality and extend component life.

As the battery industry continues to expand, who you hire into your organization is a critical component of your success. In what seems like an increasingly competitive industry—and talent still in short supply—how can you stand out? We will provide insight to help promote a positive company reputation, efficient talent acquisition practices, and other solutions to help secure the talent you are looking for.

The talk explores critical site selection factors for companies transitioning to full-scale manufacturing. Whether navigating federal "Disadvantaged Communities," "Justice 40 initiatives," or ‘Energy Communities" requirements—or more traditional comparative analyses of carbon neutral energy sources and costs, talent availability, and logistics—or utilizing economic incentive, a technical Site Selection approach can enhance your ability to thread the needle to unlock an optimal full-scale factory location while securing maximum financial assistance.

Washington’s policy and funding support for U.S. domestic EV manufacturing comes with caveats primarily in the form of steep import tariffs, from the 2022 IRA to 100% import duties on EV’s produced in China. Understanding the underlying “country of origin” rule and how the legal term “substantial transformation” can be applied are key to mitigating costly tariffs and reduce procurement uncertainty.