Michael Jonca in a part of the modular battery labs
Phoenix Testlab has been an almost indispensable partner for
these companies and their up to 800-kilogram energy storage
systems. In spring of this year, one of the most modern labo-
the sensitive energy sources to such an extent that it corre- ratories in the entire industry for testing lithium-ion batter-
sponds to far more than what is sustained over one vehicle ies and modules began operation on an area of approximately
service life.” A virtual time machine. A little magic after all! 950 square meters.
“We strictly follow the manufacturers’ specifi cations,” Jonca
says, explaining his tasks.
“The construction of this test center began with these con-
tainers.” Together with Thomas Worsch, the marketing expert
Phoenix Testlab is an independent test institute found- from Phoenix Testlab, we start a tour of the test institute.
ed in 1994 by Phoenix Contact and which is now operating “Containers are ideal because we can handle the respective
under the name Phoenix EMV-Test GmbH. The reason it was test complexes and the test specimens individually for safe-
founded was the electromagnetic compatibility test (EMC ty reasons,” Michael Jonca explains. “Although we don’t test
for short), which has been mandatory since that time. From any destruction scenarios here, so we don’t intentionally ex-
the very beginning, the independence of the institute was an pose the test object to destructive force. But our durability and
important feature of the test laboratory, despite its proximi- service life tests also stress the large batteries considerably.
ty to the founding company. This independence is one of the ””Therefore, there is also a very close cooperation with the lo-
cornerstones for the rapid success of this high-tech company. cal fi re brigade, which has to quickly get a potential fi re under
Another one is that the customer is king. control without endangering the rest of the test lab and the
Therefore, in the hallowed halls at Königswinkel 10, strict
employees and surrounding residents.”
customer specifi cations often apply. “Sorry, but these de-
vices and test objects are off-limits to photographers.” This In the torture chamber
applies especially to the automotive industry. Since 2011, The large battery blocks are subjected to months of hard work.
The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine
UPDATE 4/20
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