Why automation is key to the future of UK battery manufacturing
CONTROL & AUTOMATION CLOSING THE GIGAFACTORY GAP
BECKHOFF
Why automation is key to the future of UK battery manufacturing
According to a 2023 House of Commons Committee Report, the UK faces a“ gigafactory gap,” and will need 100GWh of capacity by 2030 and 200GWh by 2040. While the focus of debate around gigafactories is often on high-level policy decisions, international investment and government funding, automation technologies are the unsung heroes of the gigafactory, argues Stephen Hayes, manager director at automation specialist Beckhoff UK.
Recent commentary has drawn attention to the lack of gigafactories in the UK, but what is sometimes missing from the conversation is the role of automation in making the gigafactory possible. Is it a coincidence that countries leading in automation, like China and South Korea, dominate the battery manufacturing industry?
Automation and the gigafactory Battery manufacturing requires high precision, which is where automation excels. Consistency in electrode coatings, cell assembly, and electrolyte filling is vital to ensure battery performance and
60 PECM Issue 74