Hangcha and Manitou executives inaugurate their JVHM Battery Solutions, the joint venture between China’s Hangcha Group and France’s Manitou Group specialising in the manufacture and distribution of lithium-ion batteries, has been officially inaugurated with the opening of its first production facility in Le Mans France.
The two companies have been open about their ambitions for the JV: “to become the European benchmark in the optimisation of electric industrial equipment, by leveraging the technological potential of lithium to increase fleet longevity and sustainably decarbonise the industry”.
The Le Mans site will be the operational base for the JV and has 1,500sqm dedicated exclusively to production and R&D, 800sqm for logistics and admin functions, and a further 760sqm of secure storage area for competes and battery modules.
More than 250 types of lithium-ion battery modules and packs are being developed under the partnership, ranging from 5 kWh to more than 45 kWh.
The industrial process at the Le Mans facility extends from design to assembly across two state-of-the-art assembly lines: a semi-automated line equipped with four workstations dedicated to module creation, and a final assembly line for battery packs comprising up to seven workstations, operated by certified technicians holding specific electrical certifications.
“This integrated solution, comprising the Lithium Iron Phosphate battery and its dedicated charger, enables the replacement of legacy lead-acid technologies in existing fleets of industrial forklifts currently in service in the field,” a statement from the JV reads.
“By significantly extending the lifespan of material handling equipment, this approach averts the premature renewal of machinery, thereby aligning fully with the principles of a circular economy and a drastic reduction in corporate carbon footprints.”
Louise Laumet, CEO of HM Battery Solutions, says of the opening: “It is with great pride that we inaugurate this facility dedicated to the design and assembly of lithium-ion batteries”.
“Alongside Hangcha Group and Manitou Group, we have developed this site to serve as a model of performance and social commitment,” Laumet adds.