The demand for battery cells is growing rapidly as the electrification of society increases. The EU wants to establish its production in Europe, and several factories are being planned. But what does it take to build the battery factory of the future? And how can we make manufacturing processes more efficient? Rittal, Eplan and GEC show that product development, manufacturing and the operation of batteries need digitised and networked ecosystems as well as standardised systems. At Battery Show in Stuttgart, the companies are presenting their joint solutions for the planning and production of battery cells, ranging from plant technology to the product itself to digitised production. With one goal: greater efficiency and speed during the process.
At the Battery Show in Stuttgart, Rittal, Eplan and GEC (German Edge Cloud) will be showing how they help users throughout the entire battery life cycle. Solutions are available for product development, establishing smart production, as well as for operation and use of battery storage systems through uninterrupted networking of processes and ecosystems.
Support in product planning
One eye-catcher at the booth is the e-motorcycle manufactured by Energica, whose cable harnesses were created using Eplan Harness proD. Eplan also offers electrical planning, automation and mechatronics solutions for the batteries and production itself. The software connects relevant electro-technical data with digital twins of the battery, as early as the planning and design stage. This simplifies cable and cable harness design; a mechanical prototype is no longer required. Furthermore, the software is open to MCAD systems and can be integrated seamlessly into current system environments.
Plant engineering with digital and automated workflow
Eplan and Rittal help in plant engineering and operation with their digital solutions, as well as their solutions for system technology and automation. This way, consistent workflows throughout the entire value chain for control and switchgear engineering are established. Eplan software is a proven standard for the designing and engineering of electrical machine components and, with Rittal enclosure systems and automation solutions, ensures better efficiency in panel building and switchgear manufacturing.
The same applies to the operation of the systems: With the ePocket wiring plan pocket, Rittal is showing how the “digital life cycle” of control and switchgear is transferred to the Eplan Cloud. Authorised users can make use of a QR code on the enclosure to access the system documentation, including the digital twin. In the event of an error or modification, the latest data is quickly and precisely at hand.
Transparent production
German Edge Cloud highlights the optimisation potential that exists right at the start of the digitisation of existing manufacturing structures: The ONCITE Digital Production System allows maximum transparency in production; the digital production twin provides a near-real-time view of all the relevant production and process data. With data analyses including energy monitoring and in-house domain knowledge, efficiency potentials are then boosted and production is optimised in terms of sustainability.
The ONCITE Digital Productions System (DPS) ensures all-encompassing documentation, essential in battery production. This way, the entire value chain can be traced, while the quality required and the product’s footprint can be documented.
A modular system safeguards the operation of energy storage systems
Rittal has the right system solution for every energy storage application. Besides enclosure, housing and container solutions, the Rittal modular system also offers power distribution and climate control technology, as well as software tools, planning and project planning services. A range of options for accommodating different battery types will be demonstrated at the Battery Show in a VX25 enclosure system.