Customcells, a German battery company, has partnered with industry and research partners to create a digital battery factory. The project, named TwinTRACE, will be located at Customcells’ site in Tübingen, Germany, and will involve the creation of a digital twin that will collect data related to product and manufacturing processes. According to the partners involved, this will lead to the quality and traceability of battery cell production reaching a world-leading level.
“The future of battery cell development and production is undoubtedly networked and high-tech,” says Dirk Abendroth, CEO of the Customcells Group. “The digitalisation of the entire process chain contributes to more sustainability and greater efficiency. Such innovations underline our claim of being a leading global brand in the field of premium battery cells.”
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A digital twin is a virtual representation of a real-world object, system, or process that uses data to simulate, test, monitor, or optimize the real-world twin. The partners believe that this technology will bring more flexibility and quality to the manufacturing process and open up new possibilities for innovation.
“The digital twin brings more flexibility and at the same time more quality to processes and opens the field for a whole range of other possibilities,” says Maryam Zehtaban from acp systems AG.
The TwinTRACE project is focused on the production of premium battery cells for various applications, including those on the road, in water, and in the air. Customcells is already involved in the electrification of air traffic and has cooperated with engineering company Manz and e-flight cab startup Lilium.
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Customcells recently raised €60 million in a Series A financing round, which will be used to expand its activities in research and development, internationalization, and the electrification of air traffic. The company is also planning at least two more battery cell factories in Germany. A battery production plant is already under construction in Reutlingen-Nord/Kirchentellinsfurt under the direction of the battery joint venture Cellforce Group with Porsche.
