The global demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIB) is increasing. By 2030, it will have multiplied compared to today. Manufacturers will only be able to meet the high demand in future by rapidly scaling up battery production capacities. To achieve this, production must become more efficient, more cost-effective and more sustainable. Bosch Rexroth supports machine and system manufacturers with the broadest product and solution portfolio on the market and across the entire battery production value stream – from electrode and cell production to end-of-line testing and the discharge process for subsequent recycling.
Intelligent solutions already help to save time during commissioning. Linear robots from Bosch Rexroth, for example, are supplied as complete mechatronic packages, optionally with pre-installed operating software. This means they can be quickly commissioned, sequenced and connected to the higher-level line control system. By combining different material transport systems, such as a cost-efficient chain conveyor system with a high-precision linear motor drive, manufacturers can focus precision solutions on areas where they are really needed. This enables high throughput and reduces the overall costs of the system. To shorten cycle times, several processes can also be mapped simultaneously using linear robots.
Our open automation system ctrlX AUTOMATION is the key to combining a wide range of solutions. With a real-time capable Linux-based operating system, consistently open standards, app programming technology, web-based engineering and a comprehensive IoT connection, it reduces component and engineering effort by 30 to 50 percent.
With the increasing demand for raw materials, but also regulatory requirements such as the EU Battery Regulation, battery recycling and the associated return of raw materials is becoming increasingly important. The majority of existing LIB recycling capacities are currently located in East Asia, particularly China, but capacities are also being built up in Europe. With its modular solution kit for the diagnosis, unloading and dismantling of used vehicle batteries, Bosch Rexroth enables the automation of these process steps upstream of recycling. The company supplied one of the first automated solutions in Europe to BLC – The Battery Lifecycle Company in Magdeburg.