France-based digital automation specialist Schneider Electric, has partnered with Liminal Insights to develop battery inspection services.
The companies are developing a joint offering that integrates Liminal’s ultrasound-based metrology and analytics solutions with Schneider Electric’s automation and industrial intelligence ecosystem to deliver real-time inline quality inspection.
The new integrated inspection system—which is compatible with all battery cell types—offers battery manufacturers automated capabilities that enable identification of production deviations and real-time root cause analysis at the cell level.
Liminal’s EchoStat ultrasound inspection systems are readily integrated in-line, require minimal floor space, and consume significantly less power than traditional CT and electrical quality test systems, according to the company.
Initial tests for the inspection systems suggest that a 1% reduction in scrap could save manufacturers an average of $10 million annually for a 10 GWh production block. An eight-hour reduction in the cell-finishing process, enabled by enhanced operational efficiencies, could save up to $3 million annually for a 10 GWh production block.
The ability to inspect multiple cell types with a single solution can also allow manufacturers to apply historical insights to future battery products, enabling them to adapt to new cell technologies as production needs evolve.
“The transition to electric vehicles and clean energy requires greater supply of lower-cost, higher-quality battery cells. Our partnership with Schneider Electric represents progress for Liminal towards achieving this goal,” said Andrew Hsieh, co-founder of Liminal Insights. “By integrating EchoStat quality inspection data and analytics solutions with Schneider Electric and AVEVA’s factory intelligence ecosystem, we are able to deliver deeper insights and greater digital connectivity. This enables battery manufacturers to rapidly improve their quality, productivity and efficiency.”
Source: Liminal Insights
