The UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) has opened a unique clean and dry zone (CDZ) which is available for use by cell developers, equipment manufacturers, and specialists working in the battery sector.
The new 800 sqm zone is capable of maintaining the precise climate-controlled conditions needed in the production of high-quality, reliable cells.
The CDZ consists of five independent rooms, which can be rented either individually or together for a range of uses.
The five controlled environment areas are ISO Class 7 cleanrooms that use an air filtration system to maintain air cleanliness levels, and which have the capability of reaching minus 40°C dew point.
The flexible empty spaces, which range in size from 83 sqm to 245 sqm, are three metres in height, with one room, having a ceiling height of five metres in parts to accommodate processes which require additional height.
Access to each room is controlled by smart card to protect customer intellectual property.
One of the largest costs for cell and material developers is buying, installing and paying for the ongoing costs of keeping large areas dry
Richard LeCain, UKBIC’s Chief Technology Officer, said: "We're delighted to unveil our clean and dry zone, tailored to meet the fast-evolving demands of the battery industry.
“One of the largest costs for cell and material developers is buying, installing and paying for the ongoing costs of keeping large areas dry. These dynamic, climate-controlled spaces are designed with flexibility for different customers in mind and offer the perfect environment for specialised testing, manufacturing, and R&D, enabling customers to increase their technology readiness levels without large outlay in capex and opex.
“The CDZ enable organisations to push the boundaries of innovation and efficiency in battery technology, supporting one of UKBIC's core missions.”
UKBIC is part of the Faraday Battery Challenge, which is a £657m investment programme which supports world-class scientific technology development and manufacturing scale-up capability for batteries in the UK. The Challenge supports world-class scientific technology development and manufacturing scale-up capability for batteries in the UK.
