Varkaus Factory Reaches Roof Top
EUROPEAN BATTERIES OY’S VARKAUS FACTORY REACHES ROOF TOP
European Batteries Oy’s 10,000m2 lithium-ion battery factory in Varkaus has reached roof top. The project under construction is one of the largest ongoing industrial projects in Finland . Along the tightening of environmental requirements the demand for large and energy efficient batteries is growing rapidly, especially in the automobile industry.
Construction works at European Batteries’ Varkaus factory were started in October last year and the roofing ceremony was held on Monday October 12, 2009. The 40 million euro investment is one of the largest ongoing industrial projects in Finland . The first phase of the factory will start operating during the spring of 2010 and is estimated to employ 60 persons.
The factory will produce and assemble large capacity and energy efficient lithium-ion battery systems. These systems are able to provide power for heavy duty applications. Large capacity lithium-ion battery systems are designed for vehicles, heavy mobile industrial machines and energy applications. As an example these can be cars, city-buses, cranes, ships, trains and reserve power systems.
European Batteries’ Varkaus factory has been supported by the city of Varkaus ,Finland ’s Ministry of Employment and the Economy, Tekes, Employment and Economic Development Centre for North Savo and Finnvera Plc. The project is partly funded by the European Union.
Demand for large capacity lithium-ion batteries on a solid rise
Demand for efficient and intelligent electric energy systems is rising. The main drivers are the tightening environmental laws, climate change and the price of energy. New energy storage solutions based on lithium-ion batteries are more efficient than the traditional lead-acid batteries. The rise in demand is predicted to focus especially on large capacity batteries.
”Solutions to store electric energy reliably and efficiently are rising, mainly driven by the automobile industry. Large capacity batteries that we are starting to produce are not manufactured in Europe at the moment at all, and even the current world-wide production is very limited”, says Jukka Koskinen, the President and CEO of European Batteries Oy.
Sustainable energy production
The batteries from Varkaus factory will be more environmentally friendly compared to the earlier technologies; lithium-ion batteries are recyclable. European Batteries is a member of Finpro’s Cleantech Finland and is a participant in Tekes’ nano-technology program.
Oy Finnish Electric Vehicle Technologies Ltd. (FEVT), an independent battery systems provider, and European Batteries Oy will consolidate their operations in October 2009. FEVT will continue to operate as a subsidiary of the European Batteries Oy.
More information:
President and CEO Jukka Koskinen, European Batteries Oy, +358 40-749 9402, jukka.koskinen@europeanbatteries.com
Director, Varkaus Factory Mikko Vuoristo, European Batteries Oy, +358 50-597 7076, mikko.vuoristo@europeanbatteries.com
Vice President, Sales and Marketing Martti Alatalo, European Batteries Oy, +358 50-444 0830, martti.alatalo@europeanbatteries.com
Images can be found on the company’s website www.europeanbatteries.com and further inquiries can be also sent to mervi.vuorio@europeanbatteries.com
13/10/2009 3:37 pm