PEM Motion Opens State-of-the-Art Laboratory for Battery Cell Analysis

Aachen, November 2025 – PEM Motion has launched a state-of-the-art laboratory for battery cell analysis. This new facility enables PEM Motion to perform more efficient and comprehensive cell characterization.

Shortened Development Cycles

The establishment of the laboratory builds on the targeted expansion of button cell production capabilities and increased efficiency in cell analysis. The additional infrastructure allows the company to operate independently of external research facilities while ensuring systematic sample preparation. This enhances the reliability of analysis results, enables faster turnaround for customer projects, and provides validated data for the development of materials and components.

Reproducible Results

The automated production process enables approximately 20 button cells per hour to be manufactured under oxygen- and moisture-free conditions while processing and testing electrodes, separators, and electrolytes in controlled environments. “The high reproducibility significantly improves the quality of characterization data—a key advantage for generating reliable insights for material development,” says Dr. Markus Gehring, Head of the Laboratory.

The technology also allows for flexible adjustments in cell size and electrolyte volume. Button cells are particularly well-suited for gaining detailed insights into the behavior of cell materials. “Producing industrial-grade prototypes opens new opportunities for evaluating and selecting materials. The resulting insights help manufacturers reduce costs and decrease dependence on global supply chains,” emphasizes Director Gerd Macherey.

“Producing industrial-grade prototypes opens new opportunities for evaluating and selecting materials. The resulting insights help manufacturers reduce costs and decrease dependence on global supply chains.” Gerd Macherey, Director

Laboratory Equipment Continues Expand

Two glove boxes with argon atmospheres ensure contamination-free cell assembly and disassembly under conditions with less than one part per million (ppm) oxygen and moisture. The laboratory also features seven meters ofchemical workspace for sample preparation. To further expand capacity, two additional climate-controlled high-performance test cabinets are planned, enabling the parallel testing of 300 cells. An automated production line forpouch cells will also be integrated to allow faster and more reproducible scaling of cell designs.

Strategic Location within RWTH Aachen’s Research Network

The laboratory is integrated in the Battery Innovation Cluster (BIC) on the PEM RWTH Aachen campus in Melaten, providing PEM Motion and its customers with direct access to the university’s research network. The proximity to academic research ensures that the latest scientific findings can be directly applied in practice, creating a unique combination of an excellent research environment and a broad range of analytical capabilities.

From home storage systems to electric vehicles, companies and research institutions producing high-performance battery systems benefit from shortened development cycles, highly precise test results, and efficient, cost-optimized project execution.

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