New training centre in Gothenburg focuses on pioneering battery technology

The Battery Centre Gothenburg is a unique training centre where both industrial staff and students will be trained in battery technology. Because the demand for skills and expertise has never been greater.

Gothenburg Technical College is the result of a unique colla¬bo¬ration between business and the munici¬pality. The company is jointly owned by Volvo Group and Volvo Cars together with the City of Gothenburg, which has financed the battery centre together with Västra Götaland county.
– It’s a new and emerging industry, for which we need to build expertise. At Gothenburg Technical College we are responsible for the development and operation of the Battery Centre Gothenburg, on behalf of the City of Gothenburg, says Johan Bengtsson, Head of Technology Development at Gothenburg Technical College.

Training in a simulated industrial environment

Västra Götaland county is becoming a key player in the electrification of the automotive industry. Volvo and NOVO Energy’s new battery factories are expected to create 3,000 new jobs. The battery centre is scheduled to open in January 2025 and Gothenburg Technical College is in the process of completing the experience-based and target group-oriented learning environment.

– The simulated industrial environment we’re building is beneficial for learning, whatever the target group, because theory is combined with practice, explains Johan Bengtsson.
At the Battery Centre Gothenburg, participants are trained in an 800 square metre simulated industrial environment that mimics a real battery factory. They get to train on real machines and deal with realistic situations, creating a unique opportunity to combine theory and practice right next to the classroom. Teachers can focus on several important aspects of battery production, from behaviour and culture to communication, through hands-on training in an authentic work environment.
A virtual environment for battery safety training has been developed in the centre In collaboration with Chalmers University.

Attracting more people to the sector

– One of the centre’s missions is to attract more people into the industry and facilitate skills transition, explains Johan Bengtsson. The industry has a great need for skills.
– Maintenance technicians are already hard to find, and with the new factories being built, the need will increase further. We have been doing industrial training for more than 25 years and are constantly developing new programmes. One example is a vocational training programme for quality technicians in battery production. We also need to inspire more young people to enrol in technical education programmes with the aim of working in the industry.
As part of this, Gothenburg Technical College will participate in the Competence Lab at this year’s Scanautomatic fair, which takes place in October 2024. The Competence Lab is the fair’s forum for automated production, where visitors will have the opportunity to try out some of the equipment that will be available at the Battery Centre Gothenburg. Volvo Cars, Chalmers and RISE will also be exhibiting in the Competence Lab.

Test the equipment at Scanautomatic

– We look forward to showcasing our solutions and meeting everyone on site. We have received many requests from people who want to visit us and see what we are building, but since we are still in the construction phase, we have referred many to Scanautomatic, where it is easier to meet, says Johan Bengtsson.
– We’re learning as we develop, and we welcome feedback from visitors who want to talk to us and test our equipment at the show. It’s always valuable to get feedback, and the fair acts as a kind of test run. It’s going to be a lot of fun, especially as we will also have high school students, who are specialising in maintenance on the industrial programme, staffing the stand and demonstrating the equipment, Bengtsson conludes.

Don’t miss Gothenburg Technical College at Scanautomatic – click here for your free visitor ticket.