Valmet’s new plant to create 200 jobs

Valmet Automotive has signed its third customer deal for manufacturing battery systems at the Uusikaupunki battery plant, said the company in a press release.

The customer is a major automotive OEM. Installations of the production lines have started at the plant and the recruitment campaign is progressing well. Production at the battery plant will start in the second half of 2021.

The new production contract strengthens Valmet Automotive’s position as a major supplier of automotive battery systems and further supports the company’s strategic goal of expanding the EV Systems business line. The contract also is a sign of the continuous and rapid growth in demand for battery systems. Details of the new contract cannot be disclosed yet.

Construction work in the Uusikaupunki Battery Plant is progressing according to plans. The installation work of the production lines has already started. The Uusikaupunki battery plant will be producing battery modules and battery packs, and the plant will employ about 200 people in the start-up phase. Personnel training for the positions will begin in the first half of 2021.

"With bold investments, Valmet Automotive has quickly become a major supplier of battery systems to automotive OEMs. This third battery-manufacturing contract for the new battery plant in Uusikaupunki within a short period of time is a strong indication that we are moving in the right direction and that Valmet Automotive has world-class competencies in battery systems," said EV Systems Senior Vice-President Jyrki Nurmi.

The footprint of the battery plant is approximately 16,000 m2, comprising the production space, facilities for logistics and quality functions, such as a battery laboratory, as well as office and social facilities.

Office and production facilities are controlled clean areas with standardised temperature and air humidity. Several stages of the production process, such as laser welding, gluing, riveting, and helium-tightness testing are automated. Production will feature about 60 robots, and parts will be transferred by automated conveyors with a total length of about one kilometre.

"Valmet Automotive is building a unique service for the automotive industry in Uusikaupunki. We offer our customers a highly flexible and environmentally conscious opportunity to manufacture both electric vehicles and their battery systems under the same roof," said Valmet Automotive CEO Olaf Bongwald.

Sustainability issues are carefully considered in the plant’s design. All plant operations will be carbon neutral already this year. The production lines emphasise the requirements of work ergonomics, the lighting is energy-efficient, and the plant parking area will have charging stations for electric vehicles.