FACTORY AND PROCESS DESIGN FOR LARGE SCALE BATTERY MANUFACTURING

Purpose and goal

Northvolt AB aims to start industrial-scale battery manufacturing in Sweden based on a globally unique production process/system. Vinnova has provided financial support to the development of the principal process and factory design for the manufacturing facility. Northvolt has, based on simulation of new production models and processes in a near industrial scale environment, designed a factory process comprising 16 discrete steps with five separate branches. Furthermore, Northvolt has completed the factory model for Norhvolt 1 and for the pilot line “Northvolt labs”.

Expected results and effects

The project has achieved the following results: - Process model (Flowchart and key process parameters) - First draft of Quality Control process - Production system model - Requests for Quotations for equipment - Factory model, incl. material flow and a scenario for inbound logistics - Implementation and development of manufacturing monitoring These results will be implemented in the construction of Northvolt Labs in Västerås and Northvolt Ett in Skellefteå and are instrumental for reaching full scale capacity at expected cost levels.

Planned approach and implementation

1. Manufacturing Process design Main activity: definition of the process steps and tolerances, target efficiency and yield in the plant, etc. 2. Choice of Equipment and its capacity per line Main activity: determine the appropriate equipment that satisfies the requirements defined in the “Manufacturing Process Design” 3. Factory Layout, Material flow and conveyance Main activity: designing the most efficient factory layout from a production, logistics and inventory handling point of view. 4. Prototyping the process, evaluation and learning Main activity: