Festo continues to broaden its expertise and resources to support the automotive industry's changing needs as it transforms from the internal combustion engine (ICE) towards electrification. From its comprehensive product portfolio, Festo offers coordinated solutions for the robust, safe and precise gripping and transport of battery cells, along with many years of experience to help optimise machine safety and energy efficiency.

Degassing and sealing are core processes in battery cell production that directly follow the initial contacting of the battery cells with electrical voltage. The battery cells are pierced with lances and the forming gas produced during contacting is extracted. Pneumatic and electric actuators from Festo are used to handle and pierce the battery cells.

A leading car manufacturer has been relying on the pinpoint accuracy and efficiency of servo-pneumatic welding guns from Festo for many years. So much so that they have now installed more than 2,500 welding gun robots with this technology in the premium brand’s body shops. This car manufacturer has now been able to reduce downtimes by 25 percent thanks to a predictive maintenance system from Festo which is ready for artificial intelligence.

The compact and low-cost spindle axes ELGT from Festo with integrated double guide are perfect for combining into 2D and 3D cantilever systems. Developed for applications in the electronics industry, in desktop applications and in battery manufacturing, they are open to servo motors from Festo as well as many other providers, especially those based in Asia.