Battery Manufacturing EquipmentTMAX heated force-controlled pouch-cell formation station
TMAX's heated formation station clamps pouch cells at 200–3000 kgf while charging them at 10–6000 mA up to 5000 mV. The table describes 16 layers of two cells, 32 in total, heated to 90°C, with manual loading and automatic control. It suits pouch and solid-state cell formation in laboratories and pilot lines.
Clamping force, cell size and the fixture
The station applies 200–3000 kgf. That is a force, and the pressure on your cell depends on its contact area and the fixture shape. Ask TMAX for the fixture drawing, how load spreads across the cell and what protects the cell, then convert the kgf setting into the pressure your stack needs.
Cells can be 50–160 mm long, 50–100 mm wide and 4–12 mm thick, with an airbag length of 50–200 mm. Check seal and airbag clearance, tab connection positions and heater contact against your cell drawing. TMAX gives force accuracy of ±20 kg from 200–1000 and ±2% of reading from 1000–3000. Ask how force is measured and calibrated on the delivered unit.
| Parameter | Published value | Record status |
|---|---|---|
| Published force range | 200–3000 kgf | known |
| Published current range | 10–6000 mA | known |
| Published voltage range | 0–5000 mV | known |
| Current resolution | 1 mA | known |
| Listed electrical power | 12 kW | known |
| Listed mass | 1200 kg | known |
Catalogue values apply to the configuration and test method the maker states. Ask for the values that apply to your configuration.
Source references: s1
Charging range against your formation recipe
The catalogue lists 10–6000 mA and 0–5000 mV with four-wire measurement, 1 mA current resolution and accuracy of ±(0.05% of reading + 0.05% of full scale). The constant-voltage range is 2500–4500 mV and the lowest discharge voltage is 2000 mV. Check that your chemistry and recipe sit inside these limits.
Send TMAX your current steps, cutoff values, rest times and logging interval. Ask whether each channel runs on its own, what contact resistance to expect, how faults are detected and what data format comes out. Ask for the calibration record on the range you will use and agree how accuracy will be checked at acceptance.
Source references: s1
Fixture count and heat-up time differ on the page
The introduction mentions two fixtures. The table lists one fixture holding 16 layers of two cells each, 32 cells in all. Ask TMAX to confirm the delivered fixture count and whether every cell has its own electrical and force control. Base your capacity estimate on that confirmed schedule.
Heating from room temperature to 90°C takes under 45 minutes in one place and no more than 30 minutes in another. The table gives ±1.5°C per layer. Ask under what room and cell load each figure was measured, where the sensors sit and when the temperature counts as stable. Base your plans on the figures TMAX confirms for your cells, and set aside the failure-rate and utilisation percentages on the page.
TMAX's profile lists its other laboratory equipment, and the formation and capacity grading page explains why pressure and temperature during the first charge matter.
Source references: s1
Questions that change the purchase
| Decision | What the catalogue says | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| How many controlled cells are delivered? | The introduction mentions two fixtures; the table gives one fixture of 16 layers and 32 cells. | Approve a written fixture and channel schedule and size capacity from it. |
| What pressure does the cell actually experience? | Clamping is listed as 200–3000 kgf with no contact area. | Work out pressure from the fixture drawing and your cell's contact area. |
| Does the electrical recipe fit? | Current runs 10–6000 mA, CV 2500–4500 mV and discharge down to 2000 mV. | Check every recipe step against these ranges and agree data export. |
| What heating performance is accepted? | Heat-up to 90°C is given as under 45 minutes and as no more than 30 minutes. | Agree a heat-up and stable-temperature test with cells loaded. |
Equipment questions
What should be checked before installing a 1200 kg station?
The station needs AC 380 V ±10%, three-phase 50 Hz and 12 kW, and weighs 1200 kg. Ask for the final footprint, the load at each support point and maintenance clearance so your site team can assess the floor. At acceptance, map temperature with cells loaded, calibrate force and run a formation test on your own cells, including a planned fault to see the response.
Source s1Prepare the supplier conversation
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Sources and check dates
The maker's own pages and public records used for this page, each with the date it was checked.
s1 · TMAX heated force-controlled pouch-cell formation station — original equipment listing
TMAX · Manufacturer-origin source
The TMAX product page with force range, cell size limits, electrical ranges, heating, fixture layout and site requirements.
Archived source check: 2026-10-11
s2 · TMAX official equipment catalogue
TMAX · Manufacturer-origin source
TMAX's catalogue of cell assembly and test equipment, useful for planning the steps before and after formation.
Archived source check: 2026-10-11
Still to confirm
- The delivered fixture count and whether each cell has its own electrical and force control.
- Heat-up time to 90°C with cells loaded, and the test conditions behind it.
- Force calibration and the pressure produced on your cell's contact area.
- Formation results and fault response on your own cells.
Heated and force-controlled pouch-cell formation with matched electrical channels
- Cell drawing and airbag/contact clearance
- Formation current, voltage, rest and cutoff recipe
- Fixture quantity and independent channel schedule
- Force/contact-area requirements and calibration
- Loaded thermal acceptance, data and fault response
- Final footprint, floor loads and electrical supply