From 4 to 6 March 2026, Key Energy — one of Europe's leading trade fairs dedicated to renewable energy and energy efficiency — hosted a significant milestone for the AutoMat project. ERP Italia organised a shared stand at Rimini Fiera that brought together three sister projects: AutoMat, BATMASS, and Renovate.

As in previous editions, the stand was designed to showcase the powerful synergy between these initiatives. Though all three revolve around battery recycling, each project focuses on a distinct dimension of the challenge — together forming a comprehensive vision for a sustainable, circular battery economy.

With the project now entering the third and final year of its lifecycle, the AutoMat consortium is at a mature and productive stage. Key 2026 was chosen as the first public window to present the products and services developed within the project to a broad industrial audience.

The University of Pavia played an important supporting role in making this showcase possible, and colleagues from MASMEC also visited the stand during the event — reinforcing the strong collaborative spirit that defines AutoMat.

The stand featured several innovative technologies developed by AutoMat partners, each addressing a specific step in the battery demanufacturing and recycling value chain:

Politecnico di Milano — Automated Cell Case Cutting Station A novel pre-treatment technology designed to safely open lithium-ion battery cells and extract the internal electrode winding, developed in collaboration with MASMEC. Operating within a closed, protected environment, the robotic cutting station processes cylindrical and prismatic cells through three stages — loading, precision casing opening, and controlled electrode extraction — minimising material loss and improving recovery of critical battery materials.

FAAM (FIB SpA) — Advanced Battery Systems & Gigafactory FAAM, a leading Italian manufacturer of battery systems, showcased its vertically integrated approach — from LFP cell fabrication to complete battery packs with smart BMS. The company is building Southern Europe's first large-scale lithium battery Gigafactory in Teverola, and is developing pioneering recycling pathways to close the battery life-cycle loop, contributing directly to AutoMat's circular economy goals.

SUPSI — Femtosecond Laser Cell Opening Module An advanced laser-based cutting module for the automated and controlled opening of cylindrical lithium-ion cells. Using ultrafast femtosecond laser technology, the system achieves precise, cold ablation of the metallic cell casing, minimising thermal risk to internal components. Designed to be integrated into industrial disassembly lines, it supports selective material recovery and improved recycling performance.

BeePlanet Factory — Second-Life Battery Management System Developed within Pilot 3 of AutoMat, BeePlanet Factory presented a system for the safe reuse of second-life batteries, combining a Digital Battery Passport with continuous monitoring and predictive maintenance models. This approach enables anticipation of degradation, extends battery lifetime, and improves the safety and reliability of energy storage systems.

MCH-TRONICS Sagl — Cobotic Workcell for EV Battery Disassembly An advanced cobotic workcell designed to transform EV battery pack disassembly into a safe, automated, and controlled process. Featuring dual high-payload cobots, automatic tool-changing, multi-camera vision systems, and ATEX-compliant safety architecture, the system handles various battery pack geometries and supports both recycling and second-life pathways.

MASMEC SpA — Rapid Discharge & EIS Diagnostic System An integrated technology for the rapid and safe discharge of lithium-ion batteries, with energy recovery exceeding 90% and advanced diagnostic capabilities through Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). The modular, scalable system communicates natively with the AutoMat Data Platform to inform reuse-or-dispose decision-making, reducing testing cycle times by up to 30%.

Key 2026 confirmed once again that the AutoMat project is making tangible, industrial-scale progress toward a more efficient and sustainable battery recycling ecosystem in Europe. Stay tuned for further updates as the project approaches its final milestones.