Comau to take part in EU’s Reinforce project

Comau SpA, a developer of advanced automation solutions based in Turin, Italy, is participating in the European Union’s Reinforce project, which aims to address the growing need for effective end-of-life management of electric vehicle (EV) and stationary storage batteries.

As part of the initiative, Comau, based in Turin, Italy, has the dual role of managing one of the eight work plan groups and developing a versatile and safe dismantling solution for handling batteries and stationary packs based on robotics, machine learning and “industry 4.0 concepts.”

Leveraging its expertise in robotics, automation and e-mobility, Comau intends to enhance the disassembly process while ensuring safety, efficiency, flexibility and cost reductions.

The company says the project aligns with its focus on developing technologies that support the transition to a sustainable energy future, and in building a solution that efficiently handles compact battery and stationary pack formats, the project is helping address a critical aspect of the EV life cycle and contributing to the broader goal of reducing scrap and promoting the reuse of valuable materials.

The shared goal of the multifaceted project is to create a standardized, automated, safe and cost-effective system that will repurpose spent batteries for second- and third-life use and recycling. To do so, it will focus on optimizing the collection and logistic path, improving diagnostics and recovering techniques and implementing safe and efficient dismantling processes that optimize repurposing while allowing full traceability.

Comau is the project lead on Work Plan 5, which is tasked with assessing dismantling safety procedures and standardization; developing automated disassembly processes for end-of-life battery packs with different shapes and types; focusing on pack to module, module to cell and cell to electrode disassembly; evaluating and developing a simulation of a fully automated large-scale disassembly processing; and reassembling the battery packs with the desired parameters for second life applications.

“This project underscores the increasing need to develop a circular electrification path and represents a significant step forward in sustainable battery management,” Comau Chief of Engineering Andrew Lloyd says. “Our advanced robotic disassembly solution will not only enhance the efficiency and safety of the disassembly process but also support the circular economy by maximizing the recovery and reuse of materials from end-of-life batteries.”

Comau also is part of multiple pan-European e-mobility projects, including Upcell—the European Battery Manufacturing Alliance, an association that promotes the creation of an integrated European value chain for the development and production of electric batteries.

The company also is involved industry alliances that include the European Battery Alliance (EBA), the Batteries European Partnership Association (BEPA) and the European Technology and Innovation Platform (ETIP), and participates in numerous other projects regarding electrification as part of the Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe programs.