UKBIC

In 2019, Merit secured the contract to design and deliver the clean and dry room package for the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) located in Coventry. This facility, strategically situated at Coventry Airport and at the centre of the British automotive industry, is a collaboration between the UK government and industry, representing a significant capital investment. The centre plays a pivotal role in advancing the UK’s capabilities in manufacturing electric vehicle drive trains and battery packs, aligning with the government’s ‘future of mobility’ strategy through Innovate UK.

Merit’s selection was based on a combination of cost-effectiveness and the quality of our initial design layout.

The project required an environment of the highest quality to facilitate the development of new battery technologies and processes, particularly for lithium electrode manufacturing, which necessitates very low humidity conditions. Specifically, this meant achieving a -35°C to -40°C dew point supply and a -57°C dew point return within dry rooms exceeding 330m². Utilising our advanced offsite technologies, Merit successfully enhanced the dew point conditions, allowing for the production of superior-quality batteries.

The dry rooms supplied by Merit met stringent specifications, including ISO Class 6 standards and a dew point return of -73°C within the designated space.

Throughout the project, Merit emphasised design innovation and collaboration through client workshops aimed at achieving technical functionality while adhering to budget constraints.