Dutch ELEO Technologies, founded by three TU Eindhoven students, will open its new battery factory at the Automotive Campus in Helmond on 26 January. The factory will be officially opened by King Willem-Alexander.
ELEO is a company that specialises in designing and manufacturing high-quality battery systems. The systems are aimed at a wide range of industrial applications. These include construction and agricultural machinery, as well as commercial vehicles. With its battery systems, ELEO contributes to the electrification of vehicles and machinery, which can accelerate the sustainability of the sector.
Battery systems available since several years
The company was founded in 2017 by a trio of then TU Eindhoven students: Bas Verkaik, Jeroen Bleker and Bram van Diggelen. ELEO's first battery systems have been available on the market since 2020.
In a new building, ELEO is now substantially scaling up its production capacity. The company is increasing its annual production capacity in the new facility tenfold to 500MWh. This is equivalent to around 10,000 battery packs. The new factory has an area of 3,000 m2. ELEO may expand the site to 4,000 m2 in the future.
Automated assembly and R&D
At the factory, ELEO assembles battery modules in a clean room in a fully automated way. Also available are high-tech R&D labs where ELEO aims to further develop its existing battery technology. However, consider also test facilities, paddocks, assembly facilities and warehouses.
Sustainability is also given due attention in the construction of the site. For example, the site is heated using a heat pump. Solar panels are present to generate sustainable energy
King Willem-Alexander will be present at the opening of the factory at the Automotive Campus. Prior to the opening, one of ELEO's founders will give a short presentation about the company and the new factory. After the official opening, the King will be given a tour of the factory. During this, ELEO will explain the production process of the battery systems and show various applications.
Yanmar takes majority stake
ELEO announced as recently as April last year that it had signed a comprehensive deal with Japan's Yanmar Holdings Co. In the process, Yanmar took a majority stake in ELEO. The shares are owned by Yanmar Europe, a subsidiary of Yanmar Holdings. The company plans to integrate ELEO's battery technology into its electric powertrains. As part of the Yanmar Group, ELEO will continue to operate as an independent company, based in Helmond. Verkaik, Bleker and Van Diggelen, along with top Yanmar executives, will take seats on ELEO's board of directors.
"Yanmar is committed to providing electric powertrain solutions that enable our customers to adopt emission-free technology without compromising productivity," said Tomohisa Tao, President of Yanmar Power Technology.
"The investment in ELEO gives us the opportunity to apply highly innovative technology designed for the harsh conditions in which our end-users work. We look forward to working with the ELEO team on their progressive product roadmap and using our experience, expertise and global presence to support them in their exciting growth path, towards the realisation of a sustainable future."
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Source photo: Paul Brennan via Pixabay
