Process and control today | Green battery factory in Sweden with the support of Rotork actuators
15/11/2021 Rotork plc
Rotork’s products, including pneumatic actuators and digital smart positioners, have been ordered by an innovative Swedish battery manufacturer. Northvolt specializes in the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and has partners with new technical battery programs at LuleĆ„ University of Technology in northern Sweden. Northvolt is working to create “the world’s greenest battery” and Rotork’s products will play a key role in their development.
Northvolt One is a factory in SkellefteĆ„, northern Sweden, which will begin production in 2022. It will be Northvolt’s primary site for manufacturing, cell assembly and recycling. It will be powered entirely by clean energy, as part of their overall commitment to sustainability. Accurate control of the processes is the key. Rotork has currently supplied 1250 valve actuators (RC200) to Northvolt One, together with the valve supplier Onninen. It is expected that the total number of actuators delivered will exceed 1,400. The actuators will drive valves on the battery production line. RC200 units are compact pneumatic actuators. They are available in both double-acting and spring-return configurations (both have been ordered for the Northvolt project), which provides high starting and final torque.
In addition, 50 of Rotork’s YT-3700 digital smart switches have been ordered for the water and heating systems in the state-of-the-art building.
Northvolt chose Rotork’s RC200 actuators in part because they are manufactured at Rotork’s plant in Sweden (easy access to spare parts and service was considered desirable). A reputation for quality, specialized solutions and fast delivery to Northvolt’s factory were also relevant factors in the choice of RC200. Northvolt needed fast control and fail-safe capability, both of which can be supplied by RC200 Series actuators.
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