Ceetak and WMG, University of Warwick partner on pioneering smart battery cell manufacturing research
Successful collaboration with leading research, education and business department using ImPulse Heat (IPH) Sealing technology.
Ceetak and WMG, The University of Warwick have collaborated on an important research project incorporating sealed batteries. The batteries support ongoing research into electrification across many industries, particularly the automotive and aerospace sectors. Discover how our ImPulse Heat (IPH) sealing technology is being used for this project.
The Project
Established in 1980, WMG is a leading research, education and business department at the University of Warwick. It houses the Energy Innovation Centre (EIC), a national facility for battery research.
Approached by WMG, our brief was to design and manufacture a bespoke battery sealing unit.
Past success stories born out of WMG include understanding battery ageing and performance over time. Furthermore, battery safety through regulations and standards, and battery tech for hybrid buses. The findings of these projects are used by businesses to help drive the industry forward.
The Engineering Brief
WMG required a self-contained, adaptable, free-standing battery sealing machine with manual operation. The unit seals a foil laminate pouch while creating a seal around embedded instrumentation. Fibre optics and flexible PCB sensor components create variations in the laminate, requiring a precise and reliable sealing process.
The Technology and Result
An ImPulse Heat Sealing (IPH) system is ideal for this project. Its compliant weld face outperforms the solid metal sealing tools traditionally used.
Additionally, IPH promotes hermetic leak-proof seals both around, and over variations in material thickness. With its precise temperature control and accurate heat-seal force adjustment, IPH is suitable for many materials. These include polyethylene, and biodegradable and compostable films.
The result for our customer is a user-friendly and adaptable sealing unit. It plays a vital role in ensuring perfect battery pouch seal integrity. The IPH technology demonstrates reliable and repeatable placement of miniature sensors within the sealed battery. Furthermore, the WMG team was delighted with the results.