Sertec Group makes £1.7m R&D investment
Coleshill-based Sertec Grouphas invested £1.7m into its research and development programmes to enable the creation of a mass production assembly line for electric vehicle batteries.
The global automotive components manufacturer’s new assembly line will be fully operational in September 2021 and when in place will have the capability to produce in excess of 40 million electric vehicle battery busbar assemblies per year.
As the first mass production Busbar assembly line, it marks a vital step forward in electric vehicle technology for both the Midlands region and the UK.
Alongside the Busbar assemble line and at the heart of Sertec’s R&D investment is the fully equipped pre-production facility and testing lab.
As well as developing new technologies essential for electric vehicle production, Sertec Group has also invested in similar technological innovation to support its customers in the consumer goods (FMCG) and distribution sectors.
Sertec’s investment extends to the recruitment of various highly skilled, specialist roles to support the technological innovation required within the EV sector.
Grant Adams, group CEO at Sertec, said: “The investment we have made in new technology facilities are vital to the automotive industry’s ever evolving requirements for lightweight material production, which is set to become critical in future vehicle structures.
“As a UK first, the Busbar assembly line is integral to taking electric vehicle production forward both in the region and across the UK.
“It will help establish Sertec as one of the sector leading companies for this type of battery technology and put us at the heart of a regional manufacturing hub renowned for meeting the new technologic challenges of the future.”
With expansion into the electric vehicle sector key to Sertec’s vision, the group is also preparing to build a larger footprint in mainland Europe, including bringing new leadership into the organisation.
Various senior staff have been recruited including a new European sales director, CFO, vice president of quality and environmental affairs, vice president of HR and a new managing director to run Sertec’s Hungarian facility.
Sertec is also looking to set up a technical centre in Germany, similar to the one it has in China.
