Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) has unveiled its Battery Manufacturing Excellence Platform (Battery MXP), an advanced artificial intelligence (AI)-powered software solution aimed at revolutionizing gigafactory operations. Designed to enhance battery cell yields and expedite facility startups, Battery MXP promises to optimize gigafactory performance from day one.
Traditional battery manufacturing methods often result in material scrap rates as high as 30% during steady-state operations, with even higher rates during facility startups. This inefficiency leads to significant financial losses due to wasted energy and materials, as gigafactories gradually scale to efficient production levels over several years.
Battery MXP leverages AI to detect and address quality issues before they lead to scrapped material. The platform employs machine learning to identify conditions that cause quality problems, converting this data into actionable insights for manufacturers. This approach aims to cut production ramp-up time, reduce startup material scrap rates by 60%, and increase delivery rates to meet the rising demand for lithium-based batteries.
John Kem, president of American Battery Factory, emphasized the importance of Honeywell’s solution: “With Honeywell’s Battery MXP and its automation capabilities, we will be able to quickly and effectively establish a foundation for our network of gigafactories. This solution is vital in our manufacturing operation because it allows us to reduce scrap and scale up quickly, while also ensuring we meet the U.S. and international demand for high-quality lithium iron phosphate batteries as we prepare for the unprecedented surge expected over the next decade.”
Battery MXP offers bidirectional traceability and genealogy, tracking battery cells from raw material to finished product in real-time to ensure product quality at every step. It also addresses key challenges such as process controls, workforce management, and thermal runaway battery fire prevention, enhancing safety for both gigafactory operators and end-users.
Pramesh Maheshwari, President of Honeywell Process Solutions, highlighted the broader impact of the platform: “The electrification of everyday life continues to increase global demand for quality lithium-ion batteries to power electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and battery energy storage systems. With the construction of more than 400 gigafactories planned worldwide by 2030, Honeywell’s Battery MXP is a crucial technology that enables manufacturers to maximize cell yields and reach peak production much quicker than traditional methods.”
Honeywell’s Battery MXP aligns with the company’s strategic focus on automation and energy transition megatrends. As a significant player in the global energy transition, Honeywell integrates its expertise in industrial automation, cyber-secure IoT, material handling, building automation, and safety solutions to help battery manufacturers deliver reliable products rapidly to meet the projected demand for battery cells.
Honeywell is a globally integrated operating company serving diverse industries. Its business segments—Aerospace Technologies, Industrial Automation, Building Automation, and Energy and Sustainability Solutions—are dedicated to solving complex challenges, providing actionable solutions and innovations that make the world smarter, safer, and more sustainable.
