ABB has entered into an agreement with Scania to provide a range of robotic solutions for its new highly automated battery assembly plant in Sweden. Scania will invest more than SEK 1 billion ($108 million) in the facility over several years, and the new Södertälje plant is expected to be fully operational by 2023.
The 18,000m2 facility will assemble battery modules from cells supplied by Northvolt’s battery factory in Skellefteå, Sweden, with the completed packs delivered directly to the vehicle assembly hall.
Scania says the new facility will be a ‘key milestone on Scania’s journey towards the electrification of heavy vehicles’. Northvolt facility – Europe’s largest lithium-ion battery factory – has also been developed in partnership with ABB.
Tony Persson, Head of Scania’s battery assembly, says: “The factory is designed in line with Scania’s efforts to be at the forefront of industrial digitalization, automation, and the use of advanced robotic technology to streamline production processes with increased flexibility. That is where the robots and solutions from ABB fit in. For Scania, the factory is also an investment that will further strengthen Sweden’s position as a hub for cutting-edge technology in the electrification of heavy vehicles, which is crucial in the transition to sustainable transport.”
Joerg Reger, Managing Director of ABB Robotics’ automotive business line, adds: “We are delighted to work with one of our longest-standing clients to help deliver their electrification roadmap. The automotive industry has always been at the forefront of automation. But with the shift to electrification, it faces wholesale changes to established manufacturing processes. With our expertise, we will design and help implement the manufacturing flexibility that is vital for market leaders such as Scania in delivering this change.”
Scania and ABB have worked in partnership for more than four decades and are collaborating on building production infrastructure for electric vehicles.