Products
12.09.2024
“We aim to make our customers future-proof“
Bernd Klotz, Head of Segment Sales Automotive Germany at Balluff, talks about the current challenges in battery production, Balluff's solutions for increasing efficiency and the importance of trust in cooperation.
Mr. Klotz, battery cells are considered a key technology in the mobility and energy transition. Demand is on the rise, and the areas of application are increasing. What impact does that have on production?
The production of battery cells is experiencing increasing scaling with very high volumes. More and more pilot plants have evolved into so-called giga factories or are in the process of doing so, and in a very short span of time. The challenge for manufacturers and consequently many of our customers is to be and to remain competitive despite increasing cost pressures — and to do all that in a rapidly growing market.
What role does automation play in all this?
A high degree of standardized automation is indeed becoming increasingly important in battery cell production. This is because there is a lack of personnel in many places in Europe and expertise in this area is often still limited. Automated processes help increase in-house production capacities while maintaining consistently high quality. The aim is to guarantee maximum utilization of production capacity and minimize downtimes.
You work closely with a range of customers. What are they currently particularly concerned about when it comes to batteries?
First of all, a trend towards regionalization is becoming more apparent: the major economic regions want to become more independent, including in battery cell production. Added to this is the well-known shortage of skilled workers in many industries in the western world, combined with a strong dominance from Asia with a market share of more than 90 percent.
Uncertainty is another major issue: on the producer side, uncertainty about the global political and economic situation, and the associated subsidies, postponed investments and rising energy costs.
On the end customer side, there is uncertainty regarding the rapid technological developments in the battery sector. To put it simply: will my electric car from today even still be relevant tomorrow?
And what is the answer?
Indeed, there are many technological developments right now. The battery world is in motion — be it in the composition, the design, or the size of the battery cells. The battery business is currently declining in some areas, and some e-mobility projects are being postponed and stopped. Nevertheless, we at Balluff still see the future in e-mobility, not least as an important economic pillar in Germany. This makes it all the more important for us as sensor and automation specialists to always keep an eye on our customers’ current production process and to make it as efficient as possible through a high level of automation.
So collaboration plays an important role.
Absolutely. And mutual trust. At Balluff, we aim to make our customers future-proof. To achieve this, we offer them not only products of a high technological standard, but also a high degree of flexibility, strong problem diagnosis, and decades of experience in automation technology.
Locally, regionally, and globally. By talking to our customers about technology at an early stage as a “trusted advisor”, we enable them to consistently optimize their processes, digitalize production, and integrate our latest battery cell production solutions into their systems to increase efficiency as much as possible.
Which solutions are these specifically?
Our customers include various leading machine manufacturers and battery producers from Europe and Asia. We work very closely with both groups and supply them with both high-end sensors and systems for the production of batteries. From cell production to the finished battery pack. This makes Balluff one of the leading suppliers of components and solutions in the battery sector — with a comprehensive portfolio.
This means we are involved in all phases of battery production, beginning with material mixing and continuing through coating and drying, calendering and cell assembly to cell finalization and module and pack assembly. In cell finalization for example, which takes place at high temperatures, our IO-Link compatible sensors monitor the temperature without extensive cabling and guarantee consistent conditions. Condition monitoring solutions in the machines ensure that the fans or conveyor belts, for example, run smoothly. This brings us back to the topic of minimizing downtimes. Our solutions reduce costs and improve overall equipment effectiveness.
You have been with Balluff for 23 years. Which milestones in Balluff’s battery history are you particularly proud of?
Until now, battery cell production technology has been very much determined by the Asian market. Balluff began working with Asian companies at a very early stage in order to position new technologies such as RFID and IO-Link there. Now, we are a technology driver in a constantly growing market with great potential, one of the leading global suppliers and, despite the decline in combustion technology, can look back on a very positive sales development. This makes us very proud, of course.
What topics do you think will be important in the market in the future?
Looking at battery production, material shortages and supply bottlenecks will continue to be major issues. The same applies to sustainability and saving energy, which, after all, is also the aim of numerous Balluff products.
Considering the remaining life cycle of the battery, however, recycling is just as interesting: pilot projects already have experts working on further automating this often still manual process by using robotics in the long term. And then there is battery swapping, meaning stations where car batteries are not charged but exchanged. This is also an area in which we have customers in Asia who use our solutions.
What do you love most about your work?
Definitely being so close to our customers, meaning battery producers and machine manufacturers. It is only through these close relationships and cooperation that we can jointly develop future technologies and thus further advance the battery market outside of Asia. It's just a lot of fun!
