1 min read - 28 Jul, 2026
UKBIC’s early-stage cell assembly capability enters final phase
In the latest increase in the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre’s (UKBIC) capabilities, the new pouch assembly equipment for its Flexible Pilot Line (FPL) has been delivered from Italy.
The pouch line will join the cylindrical cell assembly equipment, which has already been fitted to provide expanded capabilities for UKBIC’s smaller development line.
The new equipment was built by Digatron at its factory near Verona in Italy and is currently being fitted in its bespoke space at the facility, which is located in Coventry.
Once complete, the FPL will be able to not only produce high quality electrode but also a range of cell formats, namely 220×115 pouch, tabbed and tabless 21700 cylindrical, and 4695 cylindrical. It is expected that the first customers will be able to use the cell assembly kit in the Autumn.
UKBIC’s new pouch assembly equipment has been delivered from Italy, providing expanded capabilities for its smaller development line / Picture: UKBIC
Richard LeCain, chief technology officer at UKBIC, said: “Getting the pouch kit in is the final step in FPL construction, and we can now concentrate on testing and commissioning for both of our new assembly lines.
“The new equipment will play an important role in helping organisations de-risk scale-up and accelerate the commercialisation of new battery technologies and will be open to smaller organisations that currently use our larger line.”
UKBIC already has cell assembly capability on its Industrial Scale-up Line, offering customers 21700 tabbed cylindrical or 300×100 pouch cells at volume.
The Flexible Pilot Line bridges the gap between lab-scale research and full-scale production, offering organisations a more cost-effective and agile route to market than its larger Industrial Scale-up Line.
