Major Swedish manufacturer Scania is revamping its production facilities in Södertälje to prepare the plant to manufacture electric trucks.
From Thursday, May 25 onwards, there has been a temporary suspension of production in the chassis assembly area where the trucks are assembled. This suspension is necessary due to extensive reconstruction and will last until September.
A three-shift schedule has been implemented for four months to dismantle existing tools that are no longer suitable or efficient for the new production requirements and build new ones. Simultaneously, around 700 to 800 employees have been undergoing training to familiarize themselves with the new tools capable of manufacturing electric and conventional trucks.
According to the press manager at Scania, Erik Bratthall, the temporary halt in operations, ongoing reconstruction efforts and training initiatives in Södertälje would be a transformative transition into an entirely new era. He added that the transformation would impact not only the employees but also the town of Södertälje.
Bratthall indicated that the transition towards the new production had incurred an approximately 3 billion SEK expenditure. The factory can manufacture electric trucks and conventional fossil fuel-based trucks.
In the meantime, Scania intends to increase its production capacity in various other locations, like France. According to Bratthall, Scania has set half its truck production goal of electric trucks by 2030.
Scania battery factory in Södertälje
Bratthall also revealed that Scania had built a battery factory in Södertälje, with plans to be fully operational in September.
The company made a significant investment of over 1 billion SEK in this battery assembly plant. The first phase of this project involved the construction of an 18,000-square-meter facility, which commenced early in 2021.
According to the head of Scania’s battery assembly Tony Persson, the factory has been meticulously designed to align with Scania’s commitment to spearheading industrial digitalization, automation and the implementation of advanced robotics.
Persson said these technological solutions, provided by ABB, are instrumental in optimizing production processes and enhancing flexibility.
The battery assembly plant, staffed by a team of 200 internally recruited professionals, will be characterized by a high level of automation from receiving incoming goods to the final delivery stage.
Employees responsible for manual tasks in battery module assembly, such as cable harness fitting, will receive training in electrical safety and protection protocols.
The battery packs will be customized to meet diverse requirements and transported to the nearby chassis assembly facility, undergoing simultaneous restructuring to accommodate the parallel assembly of electric and combustion engine vehicles.