Automotive

EV Battery Module Line Delivers 500K Units Annually

High-volume battery module assembly with integrated testing and thermal management

500K Annual Units
18s Takt Time
99.9% Uptime
<1ppm Defect Rate
Client EV Battery Manufacturer
Location Tennessee, USA
Timeline 18 months
Project Scope $12M

Project Overview

The electric vehicle revolution is creating unprecedented demand for battery manufacturing capacity. When a leading EV battery manufacturer secured contracts to supply modules for three major automakers, they needed to build production capability from the ground up—and fast.

AMD Automation was selected to design and build a complete battery module assembly line capable of producing 500,000 modules annually, with the flexibility to scale to 750,000 as demand grows.

Safety-First Design

Battery manufacturing presents unique safety challenges. High-voltage components, flammable electrolytes, and the risk of thermal runaway require careful engineering at every step.

Electrical Safety

  • All robot cells rated for work on energized systems (NFPA 70E compliant)
  • Automatic grounding verification before any operation
  • Hi-pot testing at multiple stages catches insulation defects
  • Emergency disconnect systems throughout the line

Thermal Monitoring

  • Infrared cameras monitor cell temperatures in real-time
  • Automatic rejection of any cells showing thermal anomalies
  • Fire suppression systems at critical stations
  • Thermal runaway containment in testing areas

Mechanical Safety

  • Category 4, Performance Level e safety systems
  • Light curtains and area scanners at operator interfaces
  • Safe speed monitoring for collaborative operations
  • Emergency stop coverage throughout

Process Flow

The line performs complete module assembly from incoming cells to packaged product:

Zone 1 - Cell Preparation - Incoming cell testing and sorting - Polarity and voltage verification - Vision-guided cell stacking

Zone 2 - Module Assembly - Cell-to-busbar laser welding - Weld quality verification - Thermal interface material dispensing

Zone 3 - Electrical Integration - BMS installation and connection - Harness routing and termination - Insulation resistance testing

Zone 4 - Final Test & Pack - Full electrical characterization - Capacity and impedance testing - Labeling and packaging

Scaling for Growth

The modular design allows capacity expansion without major reconstruction:

  • Additional cell preparation stations can be added inline
  • Parallel test stations accommodate longer test cycles
  • Buffer systems smooth flow between zones
  • MES integration enables real-time capacity management

Customer Testimonial

"AMD Automation delivered a production line that met our aggressive timeline while exceeding our quality and safety requirements. Their understanding of high-voltage battery manufacturing was evident in every design decision. We're already planning the next line expansion with them."

Director of Manufacturing, EV Battery Manufacturer

01The Challenge

A major EV battery manufacturer needed to rapidly scale production to meet OEM commitments. The line required handling high-voltage components safely while maintaining the precision and speed necessary for automotive production volumes.

  • 500,000 annual production target with growth potential
  • High-voltage safety requirements (400V+ systems)
  • Thermal runaway prevention critical for safety
  • 100% electrical testing and traceability required
  • 24/7 operation with minimal downtime

02Our Solution

AMD Automation designed a comprehensive battery module assembly line integrating cell handling, module assembly, welding, testing, and packaging—all with built-in safety systems for high-voltage operations.

Automated Cell Handling

Vision-guided robots sort, orient, and stack cylindrical cells with polarity verification and voltage testing at each step.

Precision Laser Welding

Fiber laser welding system creates reliable interconnects between cells with real-time weld quality monitoring and thermal imaging.

Integrated Test Systems

Each module undergoes insulation resistance testing, hi-pot testing, and capacity verification before proceeding downstream.

Thermal Management Integration

Automated dispensing of thermal interface material ensures consistent heat transfer from cells to cooling plates.

03The Results

The line achieved full production rate within 60 days of installation and has maintained 99.9% uptime through its first year of operation. The integrated quality systems have kept defect rates below 1 ppm.

500,000 Annual Capacity Scalable to 750K with minimal changes
99.9% OEE Exceeding 95% target
< 1 ppm Defect Rate Zero field failures to date
18 sec Takt Time 200 modules per hour

Technical Specifications

Line Length 280 feet
Robot Count 24 robots
Laser Power 6kW fiber laser
Test Voltage 1000V DC
Thermal Imaging < 0.1°C resolution
Takt Time 18 seconds
Shifts 24/7 operation
Safety Rating Category 4, PL e

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