The Fraunhofer Research Institution for Battery Cell Production (FFB) has produced its first electrically functional lithium-ion battery cell, marking the first time a continuous battery cell production process using exclusively European equipment has been implemented in Germany.
Fraunhofer said the pouch cell was manufactured at the FFB PreFab facility, covering the full process chain from electrode production through to a charged, functional cell. The organisation described the achievement as a milestone for batteries “Made in Germany.”
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The research factory in Münster focuses primarily on pouch and prismatic lithium-ion cells for research applications, including electric vehicles, medical technology and smart devices, with cylindrical cells planned for future testing. The PreFab line is designed as a small-scale model of full battery cell production, enabling industrial partners to test and refine new cell designs and manufacturing processes before scaling up.
The PreFab facility was inaugurated in April 2024 and serves as a precursor to the larger FFB Fab, which is intended to operate at gigafactory scale. Construction work on the second phase of the research manufacturing facility began earlier this year.
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Fraunhofer said the project is intended to bridge the gap between laboratory research and industrial-scale production. “Only in this way can the performance target of the FFB – the establishment of a gigafactory-scale research factory – agreed jointly with the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Fraunhofer Society be achieved,” the institution said in a statement.
The organisation added that project costs have risen significantly since initial planning. “The costs have risen since 2019/2020, primarily due to inflation, from €500 million in an initial planning phase to €750 million now,” it said, noting that the federal government has committed to ensuring the necessary funding for the facility.
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German policymakers welcomed the development as a strategic step for Europe’s battery ambitions. “Only those who master battery technology and can also manufacture battery cells competitively will be able to hold their own in international competition,” said Dorothee Bär, Germany’s federal minister for research, technology and space. She said the first cell from FFB PreFab marked “a decisive milestone for batteries ‘Made in Germany’.”
Mona Neubaur, economy and energy minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, said the facility demonstrated the region’s role as a hub for advanced industrial technology. “Strong European battery production is central to economic success, technological independence, and the transformation of our industry,” she said.
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Holger Hanselka, president of the Fraunhofer Society, said the commissioning of the pilot production line showed the institution’s role in supporting technological sovereignty. “The commissioning of the production line and the first battery cell produced there show that Fraunhofer FFB, as a link between basic research and series production, contributes significantly to technological sovereignty,” he said.
Fraunhofer said companies of all sizes will be able to use the Münster facility to develop and validate battery technologies under near-industrial conditions, supporting Europe’s efforts to reduce dependence on imported battery cells.