Scania to Employ ‘Packing’ Robots in Battery Plant

Paul Myles

TU-Editor

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25th February 2022

Scania will be deploying production line robots designed for the packing industry to help build its BEV power packs.

It has entered an agreement with industrial robotics specialist ABB to provide a range of robotic solutions for Scania’s new highly automated battery assembly plant in Sweden. The new facility is expected to accelerate the truck manufacturer’s electrification of its heavy vehicles. Scania will invest more than SEK 1Bn ($108M) in the facility over several years and the new Södertälje plant is expected to be fully operational by 2023.

This will mark the first time ABB’s IRB 390 robot will be used in a battery production facility. Originally designed for the packing industry, the robot combines speed with power and can mount contact plates in batteries at a rate of one plate every second, twenty-four hours a day. Multiple ABB robots will be involved in the assembly process, including the IRB 4600 and IRB 6700 models, along with additional solutions to support the production process.

Tony Persson, head of Scania’s battery assembly, said: “The factory is designed in line with Scania’s efforts to be at the forefront of industrial digitalization, automation, and the use of advanced robotic technology to streamline production processes with increased flexibility. That is where the robots and solutions from ABB fit in. For Scania, the factory is also an investment that will further strengthen Sweden’s position as a hub for cutting-edge technology in the electrification of heavy vehicles, which is crucial in the transition to sustainable transport.”

— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in Europe. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_