Industrialized system for battery cell testing

The National Institute of Chemistry (NIC) is a research organization dedicated to the development and validation of battery materials, designed to support academic and industrial users at a European level. To bridge the gap between theoretical research and the commercial development phase, the institute required a testing infrastructure capable of evaluating new technologies under realistic operating conditions. The goal was to replicate rigorous industrial standards and processes in a laboratory-scale environment, while maintaining maximum flexibility to test a wide range of chemical and construction variants.

Implementation of thermostatic and climatic chambers
To address these technical challenges, the NIC adopted a turnkey solution developed by Comau for battery formation and testing. The facility integrates dedicated thermostatic chambers capable of operating in a temperature range between -20 °C and +60 °C, and ambient temperature climatic chambers. The technical platform was designed to simultaneously handle pouch, cylindrical, and prismatic cell formats. Inside the chambers, the system utilizes standardized tray positioning, industrial wiring, and automated remote connections to minimize manual intervention. The use of special 3D-printed fittings allows the machinery to be rapidly adapted to different cell dimensions, optimizing changeover cost efficiency.

Operational results and system safety
This technological architecture enables researchers to manage cells through independent single-channel control, optimized for long-term lifecycle testing. Connection automation protects operators from electrical hazards, while the entire installation meets strict EUCAR safety requirements, including a dedicated fire suppression system. Aldo D’Ambrosio, Battery & Fuel Cells Segment Leader at Comau, emphasizes the technical relevance of the project: “Innovation in the battery field increasingly depends on the ability to take promising technologies out of the laboratory to evaluate them under conditions and with processes that reflect industrial reality.” Through this system, the NIC supports the commercial development of new battery technologies by offering industrial standards of reliability within a flexible research environment.

Edited by Maria Brueva, Induportals editor – adapted by AI.

www.comau.com