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Last month, ATW (Assembly & Test Europe GmbH), a company based in the German town of Neuwied that makes modern battery assembly lines, was rocked by news that it was facing closure due to the effects of the pandemic. The announcement was related by Udo Panenka, a managing director from ATW’s parent company, the Canadian ATS group. The news hit ATW like a bomb, as the company had been operating as a profitable supplier for clients such as BMW and Daimler.
Things took an interesting turn at the end of September, when local reports indicated that there may be hope for ATW and its pool of 210 highly-skilled workers yet. According to a report from RZ information, serious negotiations were underway with a company that could very well save the German battery assembly maker from bankruptcy. ATW’s management and works council, for their part, declined to comment further on the reported takeover plans.
The identity of the cryptic company that would save ATW from closure was revealed recently, as per information from local news outlet The European. The publication noted that the battery assembly maker is being taken over by none other than American electric car maker Tesla, which is currently looking to ramp its efforts to produce its own battery cells for its vehicles and energy products.
With Tesla coming into the picture, the imminent closure of ATW has been taken completely off the table. All 210 jobs in the company would also be preserved, which should give Tesla and its German workforce a notable boost considering the caliber of ATW’s engineers. Considering that ATW was on the way towards bankruptcy when it was acquired, speculations suggest that Tesla may have received a very good deal in the acquisition.
Reports indicated that ATW’s business partners had received notifications on Tuesday that the company had agreed to be taken over by a manufacturer of electric vehicles from California. Tesla was not specifically named in the communication, though word quickly got around in the industry. A toast in ATW’s Neuwied site was held on Friday as well, in celebration of the takeover from Tesla.
Tesla’s acquisition of ATW could be considered as a huge win for both companies. Prior to its unfortunate run-in with the pandemic that caused a steep decline in orders, ATW had been a highly profitable business that produced transmission assembly lines for Magna and state-of-the-art battery assemblies for BMW and Daimler. Tesla, for its part, needs premier talent such as well-trained battery engineers and skilled workers as it expands its presence in the region with Gigafactory Berlin.
SOURCE: TESLARATI
ATW
Tesla takes over the Rhineland-Palatinate specialist for battery systems ATW
The Canadian parent company ATS wanted to give up the 210-man location in Neuwied - now the turning point.
According to several newspaper reports, Tesla is about to take over ATW Automation, which has got into trouble due to the corona pandemic. ATW (Assembly & Test Europe GmbH), which is part of the Canadian ATS Group, has built more than 20 battery production systems for large automobile manufacturers - including Daimler - in the past decade.
Until the beginning of the corona pandemic, ATW Automation, with 210 highly qualified engineering employees, was considered a specialist provider that worked profitably. They got into trouble since spring. In September the plans became public that ATS wanted to close the site as part of a comprehensive restructuring.
Now the turning point: According to a report last Friday, the company's workforce was informed that the sale to a California-based car maker had been successful. In the meantime, according to newspaper reports, it has leaked in the industry that the car manufacturer is Tesla.
Another Tesla company is at home only 100 kilometers away from the ATW location in Neuwied: Tesla Grohmann Automation was taken over by the technology company in recent years, but then stopped working for other automobile manufacturers. Elon Musk may now have similar plans.
ATW builds complex assembly systems for batteries
According to the company description of the hitherto largely unknown company without its own website, ATW can build complex assembly systems for batteries in six months. You have experience in handling and assembling different battery cells - such as round cells or pouch cells. ATW consistently relies on standard industrial hardware - from drive technology, motion control and safety to sensors and robotics.
Another specialty is to analyze production capacities in the automotive industry, combined with the aim of increasing the output of the systems.
ATS confirms sale negotiations
The ATW parent company confirmed negotiations on September 25, but has not yet officially confirmed the transaction:
It is so far unclear how closely ATW and Tesla are currently working together. Possibly this will be specified in a statement later today. Of course, it is conceivable that ATW will be involved in battery cell production together with Grohmann.
SOURCE: cleanthinking.de (translated from German)
Things took an interesting turn at the end of September, when local reports indicated that there may be hope for ATW and its pool of 210 highly-skilled workers yet. According to a report from RZ information, serious negotiations were underway with a company that could very well save the German battery assembly maker from bankruptcy. ATW’s management and works council, for their part, declined to comment further on the reported takeover plans.
The identity of the cryptic company that would save ATW from closure was revealed recently, as per information from local news outlet The European. The publication noted that the battery assembly maker is being taken over by none other than American electric car maker Tesla, which is currently looking to ramp its efforts to produce its own battery cells for its vehicles and energy products.
With Tesla coming into the picture, the imminent closure of ATW has been taken completely off the table. All 210 jobs in the company would also be preserved, which should give Tesla and its German workforce a notable boost considering the caliber of ATW’s engineers. Considering that ATW was on the way towards bankruptcy when it was acquired, speculations suggest that Tesla may have received a very good deal in the acquisition.
Reports indicated that ATW’s business partners had received notifications on Tuesday that the company had agreed to be taken over by a manufacturer of electric vehicles from California. Tesla was not specifically named in the communication, though word quickly got around in the industry. A toast in ATW’s Neuwied site was held on Friday as well, in celebration of the takeover from Tesla.
Tesla’s acquisition of ATW could be considered as a huge win for both companies. Prior to its unfortunate run-in with the pandemic that caused a steep decline in orders, ATW had been a highly profitable business that produced transmission assembly lines for Magna and state-of-the-art battery assemblies for BMW and Daimler. Tesla, for its part, needs premier talent such as well-trained battery engineers and skilled workers as it expands its presence in the region with Gigafactory Berlin.
SOURCE: TESLARATI
Tesla takes over the Rhineland-Palatinate specialist for battery systems ATW
The Canadian parent company ATS wanted to give up the 210-man location in Neuwied - now the turning point.
According to several newspaper reports, Tesla is about to take over ATW Automation, which has got into trouble due to the corona pandemic. ATW (Assembly & Test Europe GmbH), which is part of the Canadian ATS Group, has built more than 20 battery production systems for large automobile manufacturers - including Daimler - in the past decade.
Until the beginning of the corona pandemic, ATW Automation, with 210 highly qualified engineering employees, was considered a specialist provider that worked profitably. They got into trouble since spring. In September the plans became public that ATS wanted to close the site as part of a comprehensive restructuring.
Now the turning point: According to a report last Friday, the company's workforce was informed that the sale to a California-based car maker had been successful. In the meantime, according to newspaper reports, it has leaked in the industry that the car manufacturer is Tesla.
Another Tesla company is at home only 100 kilometers away from the ATW location in Neuwied: Tesla Grohmann Automation was taken over by the technology company in recent years, but then stopped working for other automobile manufacturers. Elon Musk may now have similar plans.
ATW builds complex assembly systems for batteries
According to the company description of the hitherto largely unknown company without its own website, ATW can build complex assembly systems for batteries in six months. You have experience in handling and assembling different battery cells - such as round cells or pouch cells. ATW consistently relies on standard industrial hardware - from drive technology, motion control and safety to sensors and robotics.
Another specialty is to analyze production capacities in the automotive industry, combined with the aim of increasing the output of the systems.
ATS confirms sale negotiations
The ATW parent company confirmed negotiations on September 25, but has not yet officially confirmed the transaction:
What is the relationship between ATW and Tesla?
It is so far unclear how closely ATW and Tesla are currently working together. Possibly this will be specified in a statement later today. Of course, it is conceivable that ATW will be involved in battery cell production together with Grohmann.
SOURCE: cleanthinking.de (translated from German)
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