{"id":67185,"date":"2025-07-18T14:15:45","date_gmt":"2025-07-18T18:15:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.flexpipeinc.com\/?p=67185"},"modified":"2026-04-15T14:56:02","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T18:56:02","slug":"material-handling-structures-battery-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.flexpipeinc.com\/ca_en\/material-handling-structures-battery-industry\/","title":{"rendered":"Optimize Battery Production with These 8 Modular Material Handling Structures\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The battery industry is growing at an incredible annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.63%<\/a>. However, with that growth comes numerous challenges. Constant battery design changes, the demand for more efficient, longer-lasting batteries, cost control, safety, maintaining electrostatic discharge (ESD) compliance, and the need to continually increase production mean that battery manufacturers must embrace lean, modular material handling systems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meeting this challenge head-on is the steel tube and joint modular material handling system offered by Flexpipe Inc. The ultimate in scalability and flexibility, Flexpipe\u2019s steel tube and joint system is lean personified, allowing battery manufacturers to design, assemble, change, and modify whatever battery handling equipment they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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EXPLORE LEAN MATERIAL HANDLING
IN BATTERY MANUFACTURING<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Explore our industry guide<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Key takeaways <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Battery production plants face rapid design changes, strict ESD requirements, and relentless pressure to scale. Flexpipe\u2019s modular steel\u2011tube system lets engineers build customizable carts, racks, and workstations that re\u2011configure in minutes\u2014no welding required.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Result:<\/strong> faster line changeovers, safer ergonomics, and up to\u202f50\u202f% lower lifetime material\u2011handling costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why Choose Modular Material Handling Structures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Conventional material handling structures are not lean and do not allow for continuous improvements<\/a>. They are most often welded, with fixed dimensions. These fixed material handling structures aren\u2019t just expensive to buy; they\u2019re also expensive to maintain, and changing or modifying these structures is often more costly than buying new. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fixed, welded material handling structures offer no flexibility whatsoever. They are purchased to address a one-time material handling need. When the material handling requirements change or the production process changes, these fixed, welded structures quickly become obsolete.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For battery manufacturers adopting lean manufacturing<\/a>, using fixed welded material handling structures like welded carts, trolleys, work benches, workstations, flow racks, and shelving is a constant money drain.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Benefits of Flexpipe Steel Tube and Joints for Battery Handling Equipment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While fixed-in-place, welded structures cannot be changed or modified without incurring substantial costs and lost time, Flexpipe\u2019s steel tube and joints can be altered, modified, or adjusted within the battery manufacturer\u2019s facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Flexpipe, battery manufacturers can design and assemble made-to-fit ESD-safe carts<\/a>, trolleys, flow racks, workstations, work benches, Takt Boards, 4-panel boards, and information panels. All these material handling structures can be designed, assembled, and used anywhere along the EV battery assembly line. All can be changed and adjusted on-site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Flexpipe\u2019s steel tube<\/a> and joints, battery manufacturers can design ergonomic, ESD-compliant workstations and material handling structures that increase safety. As material handling requirements change, the structures can be changed accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, Flexpipe steel tube and joints allow for the ultimate in agility, with structures easily built by battery production technicians and employees. It\u2019s a simple lean manufacturing tool<\/a> that produces incredible returns. Changes that can be done on-site with minimal downtime compared to changing welded structures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re dealing with frequent design changes and ESD requirements, download our free ebook: Lean Material Handling for Battery Manufacturers<\/a> for a deeper breakdown of lean principles and structure examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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8 Essential Modular Material Handling Structures for Battery Manufacturing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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1. FIFO Flow Racks for Line-Side Component Feeding<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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First-in, First-Out (FIFO) flow racks are the ideal solution for providing line-side technicians and battery production employees with immediate access to material bins. Everything on a Flexpipe FIFO flow rack can be customized. From customizing the height, width, and number of racking levels to adjusting the distance between each level and accommodating different material bin sizes, everything can be made-to-fit with a Flexpipe FIFO flow rack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each level of a Flexpipe FIFO flow rack is angled at 15 degrees. Each level has stoppers in place to keep the material bins stationary. As each material bin is removed, the next material bin slides down and takes its place. New bins are stored behind the FIFO flow rack, ensuring a steady supply of materials to battery production employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everything on a Flexpipe FIFO flow rack is made from Flexpipe materials. From the steel tubes and joints, connectors, rollers, stoppers, and casters<\/a> to angle joints \u2013 all are Flexpipe building materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ultimate visual management system, Flexpipe FIFO flow racks for line-side component and material handling, reduce lost time and workflow interruptions caused by material shortages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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