A global leader in the development and production of premium lithium-ion battery cells: CUSTOMCELLS

CUSTOMCELLS^® brings premium battery cells to the road, water, and air. As one of the leading companies in the development and series production of special lithium-ion battery cells, CUSTOMCELLS^® is setting the pace for a comprehensive technological transformation. CUSTOMCELLS^® employs more than 150 highly qualified employees and operates development and production sites in Itzehoe and Tübingen. As an independent premium brand, CUSTOMCELLS^® stands for customized solutions in a wide range of industries and continuously pushes the boundaries of what is technically possible through digital technologies. The company supports its customers along the entire value chain – from the initial idea, through prototyping and series production, to project planning and commissioning of customers' own gigafactories.

In doing so, CUSTOMCELLS^® systematically pursues a technological vertical integration strategy through cooperation with respective "best in class" companies in the value chain – from material manufacturers to plant constructors to recycling specialists. Today, CUSTOMCELLS^® is a recognized premium partner of major automotive manufacturers and is playing a large role in driving the electrification of the aviation sector with its solutions to enable entirely new forms of mobility together with partners and customers.

In conversation with Dr. Dirk Abendroth, CEO of CUSTOMCELLS

Q. What was the motivation behind starting Customcells?

During their work at the Fraunhofer Institute, our two co-founders Leopold Koenig and Torge Thoennessen, realized that the existing market solutions at the time were not fully utilizing the potential of lithium-ion batteries. We also recognized that the electrification of transportation and the economy would require high-capacity storage systems. This motivated us to start Customcells as a spin-off of the Fraunhofer Institute.

Q. Can you explain about your services in brief?

Customcells is paving the way for an electrified future. Our extensive industry and technology expertise in developing and manufacturing high-performance battery cells makes us the natural partner in a world in transition. We are a full-service provider in battery cell development and manufacturing. As a premium provider, our solutions and services cover the entire value chain of battery technology. We accompany our customers from the initial idea to the project planning and commissioning of a gigafactory. In this way, we enable the development and production of high-performance battery cells in the automotive sector, special battery cells for the entire aviation sector, or cells for use in autonomous underwater vehicles as well as in other individual areas.

How do you solve the complexity surrounding power management with your batteries

Together with partners, we also develop battery management systems that are specifically tailored to the characteristics of our battery cells. This is one of the key benefits we offer to our customers - they can get everything they need from one source if desired. Some customers only need a prototype of a special cell, others require mass production, and others want full battery solutions including a battery management system. The trend is clearly towards offering complete solutions like these.

Q. While smartphones, smart homes and even smart wearables are growing ever more advanced, they're still limited by power. Do you think we are in the verge of power evolution?

We are already in the midst of this power evolution. At Customcells, we see ourselves as one of the driving forces behind this development. Currently, new materials and modified cell chemistry allow for battery systems that significantly outperform previous batteries in terms of fast-charging capability, energy density, and high-temperature capabilities, new materials and modified cell chemistry are allowing batteries to outperform previous batteries. In the long run, mass market end consumers will also benefit from this. However, innovations always start at the edges, in niche markets and at the extremes.

Q. Do you have any new services ready to be launched?

We are co-pilots in the next big story of our century - electric flying. For example, our cells already meet the various characteristics required for use in air cabs. However, we have also actively pursued digitization around our cell technology and developed - based on that - a complete solution for the aviation industry. This smart cell technology allows data integration from cell production through a cloud computing environment, with information from cells being used in eVTOL aircraft. We believe that the future of battery systems lies in the interaction of cells and digital twins.

Q. What does the future hold for your company and its customers? Are exciting things on the way?

Expanding our site in northern Germany will help us further accelerate the development of Customcells. By processing new materials, we can develop a new generation of prototypes – particularly in the aviation industry. We are also increasing our capacity for series production in this area. Additionally, we have gained extensive digital capabilities in recent years that will help us establish smart battery systems as the new standard. In short, we are industrializing our manufacturing and positioning ourselves as an independent premium brand in the global battery cell market.

Meet the leader behind the success of CUSTOMCELLS

Dirk Abendroth, CEO has joined Customcells in an effort to significantly grow the company and take it to the next level. With a background in sustainable mobility, IT, and automotive, as well as recent experience in aviation, Abendroth is well-equipped to drive the transformation of the mobility industry towards the next generation of smart devices. He has held a variety of roles, including CTO of Continental, CTO of Team Global, and VP and founding member of BYTON, a California and China-based start-up. Abendroth was also instrumental in the BMW i program and was responsible for overseeing the powertrain for the BMW i3 and i8. He holds a PhD and Diploma/Master's degree in Digital Communication Networks from the Technical University of Hamburg, Germany. Abendroth has been awarded over 12 international patents and has published more than 20 international journal and conference papers (IEEE).

“CUSTOMCELLS® lithium-ion energy storage systems are optimized at the chemical, battery and battery module levels. The result: Considerable performance advantages.”