Working on More Efficient
Battery Development Together
AVL and Henkel
Henkel is the global leader in adhesives, sealants, and functional coatings.
The company’s portfolio includes a wide variety of solutions for the automotive
industry. To accelerate innovation in the e-mobility sector, Henkel has now
opened its first Battery Engineering Center inside its Inspiration Center in
Düsseldorf – with the support of AVL. Our company contributes to the success
of the center with the latest simulation solutions and testing technologies. We
talked to George Kazantzis, corporate vice president, global head of automotive
components at Henkel, about the features and objectives of the Battery
Engineering Center.
Can you reveal details of the specific technologies, projects,
and initiatives Henkel is currently working on in the area of
e-mobility?
We have transitioned our long-standing expertise in adhesive
technologies, which we have been developing for over 100
years for conventional vehicles, to formulate new solutions for
battery electric vehicles. Now, we are not only leading in ad-
hesives, sealants, and functional coatings, but also in thermal
and electronic materials. Our technologies are designed to
enable battery and automotive manufacturers to design and
produce batteries efficiently, at a competitive cost, and at the
required production rate, always prioritizing safety.
Moreover, sustainability and circular economy are at the fore-
front of our agenda. We’re actively working towards enabling
battery manufacturers to design batteries that can be efficient-
ly dismantled and recycled at their end of life.
Henkel celebrated the inauguration of the Inspiration Center
Düsseldorf (ICD) last year, a €130 million investment from
the company. What is the vision behind it?
The Inspiration Center Düsseldorf (ICD) represents Henkel’s
dedication to pushing the boundaries in adhesive technolo-
gies. The facility gathers over 650 of our experts, creating a
space where new solutions are developed in partnership with
customers across more than 800 industry segments. The goal
is to address the industry’s pressing challenges swiftly and
reliably by increasing the development speed and enhancing
the customers’ confidence in our solutions. The ICD offers not
only the space, but also the collaborative environment needed
for these endeavors, involving our customers, suppliers, and
business partners. Central to our mission is addressing the
industry’s challenges with a pronounced focus on sustain-
ability, from CO2 reduction to championing a circular econo-
my. Through the ICD, we aim to solidify our role as industry
HOME OF INNOVATION
E-MOBILITY
Photo: Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
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