The UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) has begun installation of its new state-of-the-art cell assembly line as part of the ongoing development of its Flexible Pilot Line (FPL).
The first of the new equipment, which will offer customers the opportunity to choose between tabbed and tabless 21700 and 4695 cylindrical cells, has arrived on site in Coventry. In addition, the new pouch cell assembly kit is currently undergoing testing and will be installed later in the year.
The new capability is due to be available to customers in the autumn, following commissioning of the equipment.
Once operational, the cell assembly capability will support a wide range of customer programmes and formats, further strengthening UKBIC’s offering across multiple chemistries and applications.
Sean Gilgunn, UKBIC Managing Director, said: “The installation of our cell assembly equipment will be yet another major step forward in allowing UKBIC’s clients to accelerate technology innovation and manufacturing scale-up within the UK through an end-to-end truly integrated battery production line, which will support their drive to efficiently deliver a quality product to market.”
“We’ll be able to offer a more cost-effective solution to customers, across multiple formats, and also give a natural progression to our larger line when clients are ready for industrialisation.”
The new line complements UKBIC’s existing facilities, including the Giga-scale Industrial Scale-up Line, the Battery Development Laboratory, which offers cell characterisation and analytical capability, the cell cycling facility, and the Clean and Dry Zone. These capabilities help bridge the gap between early-stage R&D and scale up manufacturing for customers.
To find out more about FPL, go to https://www.ukbic.co.uk/flexible-pilot-line
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About UKBIC:
UKBIC is the UK’s national manufacturing development facility, providing scale-up, laboratory expertise, and module and pack assembly, and helping develop skills to support the sector.
By bridging the gap between research and high-volume manufacturing, UKBIC plays a critical role in supporting the UK’s transition to net zero and strengthening its position in the global battery supply chain.
UKBIC provides state-of-the-art equipment, technical expertise, and training to help manufacturers and researchers validate processes, optimise performance, and reduce risk before committing to large-scale investment.
The facility offers both pilot and industrial-scale lines, enabling customers to trial new materials and processes under real-world conditions.
UKBIC also supplies its own benchmark products for component testing and delivers specialist training to develop the skills required for a battery-powered future.
UKBIC is uniquely positioned to tackle complex manufacturing challenges. With expertise in processing diverse materials and products, and access to a broad range of advanced technologies, its engineers bring a comprehensive understanding of issues that span the entire battery value chain.
UKBIC is a delivery partner for the Battery Innovation Programme.
About the Battery Innovation Programme:
The Battery Innovation Programme, funded by the Department for Business and Trade and delivered by Innovate UK, is a £452 million programme running from 2026 to 2030. It is designed to grow the UK economy by accelerating battery innovation and enhancing the nation’s global competitiveness across automotive, aerospace, off-highway, storage and maritime.
