In-house laboratory established by Comau for creating advanced cell manufacturing innovations on a global scale
In a significant move towards advancing industrial innovation, Comau, a global leader in industrial automation, has established an in-house dry room. This state-of-the-art facility serves as a fully-equipped laboratory dedicated to the development, testing, and validation of advanced cell manufacturing solutions, particularly for lithium-ion and next-generation solid-state batteries.
Located within Comau's premises, the dry room offers a controlled environment with ultra-low dew points (-40° and -50° DP), crucial for handling moisture-sensitive battery materials. This feature is vital for solid-state and lithium-metal battery technologies that require dry manufacturing environments to ensure safety and performance.
The dry room also acts as a platform for testing and validating Comau’s automated cell manufacturing equipment and new machines. This enables the company to bring cutting-edge battery technologies from concept to industrial applicability faster. Moreover, the dry room is openly accessible to customers, universities, industry associations, and Comau’s own engineering teams, fostering collaboration and innovation within the battery sector.
Pietro Gorlier, the Chief Executive Officer at Comau, commented on the significance of this development, stating that it reinforces Comau’s commitment to the electrification sector. The dry room expansion solidifies Comau’s end-to-end battery manufacturing solutions portfolio, which is critical in the transition to electric vehicles and renewable energy storage.
In addition to the dry room, Comau continues to invest in research and development across all strategic sectors, including e-Mobility. The company is also optimizing cell assembly developments, including notching (laser and mechanical) and stacking technologies.
This commitment to advancing industrial innovation is not limited to the dry room. Comau has a network of seven dedicated Innovation and Competence Centers strategically located in key markets such as Italy, France, China, India, and the United States. These global Centers are integral to Comau's ongoing commitment to advancing industrial automation technologies and supporting customers worldwide.
In summary, Comau’s dry room enhances their capability to innovate and commercialize next-generation battery manufacturing technologies while supporting the broader electrification goals and strengthening Europe's strategic position in the global battery supply chain. By developing technologies that support advanced battery chemistries like solid-state batteries, Comau is contributing to a pan-European Battery Value Chain—a coordinated effort to establish a robust, sustainable, and competitive battery manufacturing ecosystem across Europe.
The dry room, a crucial component within Comau's premises, is not only utilized for testing and validating Comau's automated cell manufacturing equipment but also for exploring advancements in energy storage, specifically solid-state and lithium-metal battery technologies. In line with this, Comau's research and development efforts extend beyond the dry room, encompassing various strategic sectors such as technology, particularly in the area of e-Mobility.
