Colombia. Schneider Electric and Liminal Insights have announced a strategic alliance to improve the quality and scalability of battery production, reducing waste and optimizing efficiency in the industry
The growing demand for electric vehicles is driving the search for innovative solutions in battery manufacturing.
The agreement comes at a key moment for the sector: global sales of electric vehicles are estimated to reach 40% by 2030, which will increase demand for batteries tenfold over the next decade. However, manufacturers face significant challenges, such as high scrap rates (between 6% and 15% in mature plants, and even higher in new factories) due to deficiencies in quality control.
To address this issue, Schneider Electric will integrate Liminal's ultrasonic metrology and analytics solutions with its automation and industrial intelligence ecosystem, enabling real-time quality inspection during battery cell production. The new technology supports various cell types, including NMC, LFP, solid-state, and Na-Ion.
According to industry estimates, early detection of manufacturing failures could lead to significant savings. Initial evidence suggests that a 1% reduction in waste could mean savings of up to $10 million annually in a 10 GWh production block. In addition, optimizing cell finishing time by eight hours could generate up to $3 million in operational savings.
Key benefits of this solution include:
- Automation and integration: Allows real-time inspection to be connected to the production chain.
- Increased operational safety: Unlike X-ray systems, ultrasonic inspection does not emit radiation.
- Flexibility for future technologies: The solution can be adapted to new battery generations without the need for drastic changes.
Experts in the sector believe that this type of innovation will be key to accelerating the transition to electric mobility and reducing production costs. "Our goal is to improve the quality, reliability and safety in the manufacture of batteries for electric vehicles," said Francois Verkindt, Head of EV Batteries Business at Schneider Electric.
Andrew Hsieh, co-founder of Liminal Insights, underlined the importance of the partnership: "This integration of data and digital intelligence will enable manufacturers to rapidly improve their productivity and efficiency, contributing to the growth of the battery market."
With this initiative, Schneider Electric and Liminal seek to position themselves as strategic allies in the transformation of the battery industry, in a context where sustainability and efficiency are increasingly decisive for the development of the automotive sector.
