ACC is leveraging IFS Ultimo to manage more than 20,000 assets, enhancing efficiency and predictive maintenance while driving Europe’s EV energy transition.
Automotive Cells Company (ACC), a leading EV battery manufacturer backed by TotalEnergies-Saft, Stellantis and Mercedes AG, has adopted IFS Ultimo’s enterprise asset management (EAM) software to bolster efficiency and reliability.
Managing more than 20,000 manufacturing assets with this state-of-the-art system, ACC has significantly improved corrective and preventative maintenance, ensuring operational excellence as it scales up production.
Streamlining maintenance with EAM technology
IFS Ultimo’s EAM system has proven instrumental in ACC’s quest to optimise its industrial assets.
“Price competition is the first challenge for ACC. ACC focuses on scrap reduction and increasing overall equipment effectiveness to win this battle and become a key player in the European energy transition.” – François Carrot, Information System Director at ACC.
The mobile-enabled system equips engineers with real-time asset data, accessible via QR codes, allowing them to perform maintenance on the go.
The approach has streamlined maintenance processes and resource allocation, further boosting ACC’s ability to meet the growing demand for sustainable EV batteries.
Driving energy transition with sustainable EV batteries
ACC’s mission is to support the automotive industry’s shift toward greener energy.
The company’s Billy-Berclau Douvrin gigafactory, inaugurated in May 2023, is a cornerstone of its strategy. Expected to produce batteries for 150,000 Stellantis vehicles by the end of 2025, the facility represents a significant step in ACC’s vision to lead Europe’s energy transition.
With machines operating for longer durations, IFS Ultimo’s SaaS EAM system allows ACC to maximise uptime and minimise downtime. The result is a cost-effective, efficient production process that aligns with ACC’s goals for sustainable, high-capacity batteries with longer lifespans.
A seamless integration for operational excellence
Implementation part INOTEAM facilitated the deployment of IFS Ultimo. In just six months, the system was operational, cataloguing every asset in ACC’s facilities.
Engineers can now directly access detailed documentation, maintenance histories and operational data on their tablets.
Johan Made, CEO of IFS Ultimo, says: “With ACC, we saw a young company poised for growth that needed to catalogue all the machines in its facilities, including tracking all corrective and preventative maintenance to avoid breakdowns.
“Rolled out to users in just six months, the engineers find it intuitive and rich in data.”
The EAM system also integrates stock management, ensuring parts availability during repairs. The centralised approach improves efficiency and supports ACC’s ambitious production targets.
ACC continues to invest in its growth, with plans to enhance its innovation and production capacities. Following the successful inauguration of the Billy-Berclau Douvrin gigafactory, a second production block is scheduled to start in 2026. Meanwhile, the company is leveraging its global R&D network and partnerships to stay at the forefront of battery technology.
IFS Ultimo will remain a key partner in ACC’s journey, with plans to expand the system’s functionality to include purchasing and health, safety and environmental (HSE) management.
Europe’s energy transition
ACC is firmly positioned to become Europe’s leader in EV battery manufacturing. Its adoption of IFS Ultimo’s EAM system underscores its commitment to operational excellence, innovation and sustainability.
By combining cutting-edge technology with a forward-thinking approach, ACC is meeting current demands and paving the way for the automotive sector’s energy future.
As Francois aptly states: “Better resource allocation and responsiveness underscore the operational efficiency at ACC, which is pivotal to the commercial performance of manufacturing businesses.”
With its sights set on growth and sustainability, ACC continues to drive the energy transition forward.
