Battery Center completes first equipment installation with advanced coating system

By Michael Huson

July 3, 2025

The Battery Cell R&D Center at The Ohio State University recently installed its first major tool for advancing next-generation battery technology for electrified mobility: a high-precision coating system that bridges the gap between fundamental research and pilot-scale production of advanced battery cells.

The Click&Coat system will play a crucial role at the center, set to open in September 2025, by enabling the precise, uniform application of battery materials and providing university researchers, students, and industry professionals with a highly customizable platform for scaling their work.

In battery production, the coating process is essential for ensuring high-performance lithium-ion and solid-state batteries. The new system will enable manufacturers to improve battery performance for a range of applications.

In May, the large roll-to-roll substrate processing platform arrived in multiple crates weighing more than a thousand pounds each.

Coatema Coating Machinery GmbH and its U.S. distributor, next Machinery Group, Inc., sponsored the acquisition.

Semi truck delivering a new coater machine to the Battery Center.

Their partnership with the Battery Center will give users the ability to experiment with various materials, processes, and production scales, furthering innovation in battery technology.

BATTERI interns learn about the set-up process of the machine at the Battery Center.

“Having this capability will allow students the opportunity for hands-on training, interdisciplinary collaboration, and project-based learning that will foster a skilled workforce capable of advancing EV technology and translating research into real-world applications,” said IMR director of innovation Jay Sayre.

IMR staff visit Coatema in Germany to inspect new machinery. — IMR's Jay Sayre visits Coatema in Germany to conduct testing of the new coater.

In January 2025, the Institute for Materials and Manufacturing Research (IMR), which operates the Battery Center, traveled to Germany to conduct a factory acceptance test on the latest Click&Coat system by Coatema.

During the trials, the team successfully produced the custom-designed machine’s first anodes, marking a major milestone in the system’s deployment. IMR reported positive results and satisfaction with the machine’s performance and overall process.

The Battery Center’s partnership with Coatema Coating Machinery GmbH and their U.S. distributor next Machinery Group, Inc. was announced in July 2024. These partners followed Honda, the center’s lead foundational partner, which committed $15 million to the research and development center. Schaeffler Americas also serves as a foundational partner. Federal funding for the center was provided through the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Extramural Construction program, thanks to the efforts of congressional champions U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and U.S. Reps. Joyce Beatty and Mike Carey. The project was also endorsed by the State of Ohio and JobsOhio.

“We are excited to collaborate with The Ohio State University on this groundbreaking project. Our Click&Coat machine line will empower researchers and industry professionals with the tools needed to advance battery cell manufacturing, ultimately driving innovation in the EV sector,” said Thomas Kolbusch, VP of Coatema Coating Machinery GmbH, in a statement announcing the Battery Center partnership.