PI-KEM Completes Major Battery Research Facility Project in Poland
Wednesday, 18 February 2026
UK-based advanced materials specialist PI-KEM Ltd has successfully completed a three-year project to deliver the largest pouch cell pilot line in Eastern Europe, located at the Łukasiewicz – IMN | Centre for Electrochemical Energy Storage in Poznań, Poland.
The new facility represents a major investment in Poland’s battery research capabilities and will support the development and prototyping of next-generation lithium battery technologies. Co-financed by Poland’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the pilot line is the only facility of its kind in the country and one of just a few comparable installations across Europe.
Designed to bridge the gap between laboratory research and industrial-scale production, the pilot line enables researchers to develop, test, and refine pouch cell technologies under realistic manufacturing conditions. The facility is expected to play a key role in strengthening Poland’s position within the European battery research and energy storage landscape.
PI-KEM provided end-to-end project delivery, including early-stage consultation, pre-installation planning, and full on-site installation. The project was delivered in close partnership with long-standing supply partner MTI Corporation, a global supplier of battery manufacturing and testing equipment.
Installation and commissioning were carried out by PI-KEM’s project team — Fiona Rouse, Colin Rouse, Adam Gadsby, and Geoffrey Handley-Harrison — working alongside MTI Corporation engineers and the Łukasiewicz-IMN technical team. Comprehensive training was provided by MTI specialists to ensure the facility could be fully utilised from day one.
Fiona Rouse, Director at PI-KEM Ltd, commented:
“This project is a clear example of what can be achieved through long-term collaboration and shared technical ambition. We are proud to have supported the delivery of a facility that will play an important role in advancing battery research in Poland and across Europe.”
The pouch cell pilot line delivered by PI-KEM Ltd has been configured to support the full development cycle of advanced lithium-based pouch cells, from materials evaluation through to prototype-level production.
The line integrates electrode preparation, cell assembly, formation, and testing capabilities, enabling researchers to replicate key industrial manufacturing steps within a controlled R&D environment. This approach allows for accelerated optimisation of materials, cell design, and process parameters before scale-up.
Installed at the Łukasiewicz – IMN | Centre for Electrochemical Energy Storage in Poznań, the facility is designed to support collaborative projects with academic institutions, industrial partners, and technology developers working on next-generation energy storage solutions.
PI-KEM’s role encompassed system specification, equipment integration, on-site commissioning, and operator training, delivered in partnership with MTI Corporation. The resulting pilot line provides a flexible platform capable of supporting evolving research priorities and future technology development.
PI-KEM Ltd expects the new pilot line to support a wide range of academic and industrial research programmes and looks forward to continuing its collaboration with Łukasiewicz-IMN, as well as delivering further advanced research infrastructure projects across Eastern Europe.
For more information, including videos from the team, and behind the scenes footage, please visit https://www.pi-kem.co.uk/articles/cutting-edge-pouch-cell-pilot-line
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