b'Partner News Autumn 2022 15Enterpriseelectrification, digital intelligence, advancedthe creation of reliable, zero emissionBy industrialising the largely manual robotics, mobile technologies and smartpower. According to the companys internalmanufacturing environment, Comau can help factory enablers, form the backbone of itsestimates, which are based on datafuel cell manufacturers scale-up production commitment to empowering green energyprovided by IEA and IHS, Comau predictsvolumes and increase the quality of the supply, storage and transformation, activelyhydrogen use will double over the nexthigh precision process. Automation should helping promote and enable a cleaner, moredecade, largely driven by new applicationsalso reduce operating costs by up to 20% sustainable future. in mobility and energy storage.according to internal estimates, thanks in part to the increased precision and the Leveraging its strong history of applyingThis is expected to boost the demand forreduced burden of cleanroom security advanced research and innovation toelectrolysers from an estimated 120MWmeasures. manufacturing processes within missioninstalled in 2020, to more than 20GW critical industries, with a strong andexpected in 2030, whereas the market forIn terms of batteries, the increasing use of historical presence in automotive, Comau isfuel cells could grow from a few thousandlithium-ion batteries for powering ships and also becoming a trusted point of referencefuel cell units deployed in 2020 to 1.2Mother forms of mass transportation is met for solar and wind energy. Indeed, givenunits by 2030, equivalent to more thanwith extreme variability due to the constantly that wind and solar energy are expected to100GW of hydrogen energy. evolving technology considerations. To drive the renewable energy market over themeet this challenge, Comau has developed next several years, automation can play aScaling-up productionsolutions for the automated production of decisive role in operations and maintenance,In response, Comau is working towardlithium-ion battery modules for the naval as well as components manufacturing.lowering the price point of fuel cell andsector that allow Leclanch, a company electrolyser manufacturing, which is aspecialising in the production of lithium-When one of the top electricity companiesnecessary step toward reaching theion cells and energy storage solutions, to asked Comau to help design a revolutionaryfull market potential. It is doing so byincrease its work capacity by up to six times. approach to solar panel installation, itsdeveloping a proprietary solutions portfolioThe solution both automates the complex engineering team was quick to respond.to automate key process steps, includingmanual processes and reduces operating Today, in addition to automating thecell preparation and stacking, leak testingcosts by up to 20%. outdoor installation of photovoltaic panelsand more. directly in the field, Comau has extended itsSustainable until the endfocus on solar energy by developing a novelYet, for energy transition to be truly solution for the on-site production andsustainable, it is also necessary to manage assembly of solar blades. the end-of-life environmental impact associated with the batteries that are being Smart automation solutions used to power ships, trucks, heavy rail and Similarly, Comau designed and developedpassenger vehicles. Comau has therefore an automated manufacturing system tojoined the Battery Regeneration Project produce 100m long wind turbine bladespromoted by the non-profit organisation, that helps reduce production costs,Class, and Cobat, a service platform for OPEX (operative expenditure) and leadthe circular economy. The collective project time, allowing wind power suppliers tois working on developing an Italian supply better meet market demands. The projectchain for the recycling and reuse of lithium combines multiple articulated Comau robotsbatteries. with an overhead gantry manufacturing system to automate the gel, glass fiberThe Flexible Battery Dismantling (Flex-layup and gluing processes for the BD) Project, which is supported by EIT 100m long blade.Manufacturing, is another project in which Comau is working together with other The smart automation solution alsopartners to automate battery dismantling simplifies the transition between fullyoperations, thereby generating a positive automated and semi-automated processes,impact on peoples health and safety. offering the dual advantage of protecting throughput and increasing productionLike many industrial solutions providers, quality. In addition to developingComau began embedding energy saving automation solutions for wind turbinetechnologies within its proprietary products manufacturing and installation, Comau hasand technologies more than a decade joined WindEurope in its efforts to activelyago. Today, by leveraging its expertise to promote wind power development. deliver more efficient production processes within the electrification and renewable As part of its dedication to electrificationenergy sectors, Comau is reconfirming its and renewable energy, Comau has alsocommitment to enabling the creation of begun developing automation solutionsreliable, zero emission power for a greener for the hydrogen sector to help facilitatefuture.'