Neither shape, quantity nor consistency – nothing is left to chance. The application of the turquoise-blue mass in the chambers of the aluminum housing follows a strict plan: “The paste has an important task: it conducts the heat into the cooling structure that is generated when the battery cells are charged and discharged,” explains Robert Vielmuth. The Shop Launch Manager presents visitors with the latest Thuringian specialty: the details of the production of battery units. Because “Eisenach goes grand”. The factory is now also set up for the purely electric version of the Grandland.
To mark the start of series production of the new Grandland, the Eisenach plant invited people to an employee and family day on October 12th. To the place where the top SUV is manufactured exclusively – in three electrified drive types with 48-volt technology, as a plug-in hybrid or fully electric. The associated units are being built at twelve stations in the newly created battery production facility. The first three work steps – including the application of the thermal paste – are automated. This is then followed by manual work by the high-voltage specialists, before the last step, number 12, is to screw the cover fully automatically – the battery unit is ready. “15 battery packs should be created per hour,” says Vielmuth.
“Our new battery production means we are well positioned for the future.”
– Robert Vielmuth, Battery Shop Launch Manager –
Assembly on site: As Battery Shop Launch Manager, Robert Vielmuth is responsible for setting up the new production area.
New depth of production: Jörg Escher (from left) presents battery production to Opel CEO Florian Huettl, Eisenach Mayor Christoph Ihling, Luisa Klein from the technology and start-up center and Opel labor director Ralph Wangemann.
Giving instead of making: Robots specially reprogrammed for the day give out small gifts to visitors.
Short routes: The battery packs for the Grandland are manufactured at twelve stations in close proximity to the chassis line.
Know-how in Eisenach: Supervisor Lukas Goede is part of the battery production team. The employees were trained to become high-voltage specialists.
“The Grandland is a bold, clever and clearly designed SUV – designed and developed in Rüsselsheim, built in Eisenach,” says Florian Huettl. The Opel CEO came to Thuringia to personally thank Eisenach plant managing director Jörg Escher and his team for their great commitment on the way to series production – and to introduce the guests to the flagship, which is full of innovations. The Grandland is the first Opel model to be supplied with battery cell modules from Douvrin. The Gigafactory in the north of France belongs to the joint venture ACC, Automotive Cells Company, and ensures the ramp-up of electromobility: “We are very proud of this step because it shows that something is moving in the integration of the electrical value chain in Europe,” emphasizes Huettl .
Electrified, chrome-free, recycled materials
The investments of 130 million euros in the Eisenach “E-Werk” are not yet complete: Work will begin this year on building a solar park to provide electricity. A 1.5 megawatt heat pump will also support the plant’s heating. “The gradual switch to renewable energies helps ensure that the Eisenach plant is sustainably positioned for the future,” says Florian Huettl. And the Opel Grandland itself, which is manufactured here, also follows the principle of sustainability. Inside with recycled materials, outside with no chrome and electrified in every version – this is how the flagship takes the “Greenovation” approach into account.
“The Grandland is a bold, clever and clearly designed SUV – built in Eisenach.”
– Opel CEO Florian Huettl–
“Made in Germany”: “The Opel Grandland was designed and developed in Germany and is now also being built in Germany – that is not a given,” says Opel CEO Florian Huettl.
Star of the day: As usual for an Opel, the top SUV is a leader in terms of seating and lighting quality.
Full of innovations: Quality Engineering Manager Tim Badersbach explains the clever details. Thanks to the new STLA Medium platform, the loading volume remains the same for all drive versions.
Take a ride: On the factory test track, visitors can experience the Frequency Selective Damping technology, which is standard on the electric and plug-in hybrid variants, in action.
Waves, thresholds, paving stones: Florian Huettl personally tests the driving characteristics of the new SUV flagship.
Visitors can test for themselves that the innovations in the flagship are also reflected in the performance. “The interest in the test drives with the Grandland is so great – we could easily offer trips for another day,” says Angela Kühn, who is responsible for “sales to employees” in Eisenach. Together with other helpers, she hands out the “keyless” keys and gives a short briefing before the visitors set off on a test drive on the country road. Like Merle Schubert. She came today to exclusively test drive the Grandland. “I really liked the first photos. Now I want to test the performance of the all-electric version,” she says.
Filled with innovations
Your expectations are high: After all, the top SUV benefits from the STLA medium platform, which was specifically designed for battery-electric models. “The new Grandland has particularly flat battery packaging, as well as numerous energy-saving features: In Germany, for example, there is a heat pump as standard,” explains Tim Badersbach, who is responsible for engineering quality at the site. And with the soon-to-be-available 97 kWh battery, up to around 700 kilometers will be possible without a charging stop.
“The interest in test drives with the Grandland is so great – we could easily offer trips for another day.”
– Angela Kühn, sales to employees Eisenach –
Test drive with the SUV: Kai Schmidt gives visitors a short introduction.
Huge interest: Angela Kühn and her team are pleased with the “consistently positive feedback” about the Grandland.
Whether it’s an anniversary band or sneakers: the mobile Opel shop is an important point of contact for everyone who loves the brand.
The model range is presented: Visitors stroll past the Rocks Electric, the light vehicle that provides mobility for ages 15 and up.
Longed-for test drive: Merle Schubert puts the Grandland through its paces.
The sun peeks through the cloud cover. Employees and guests stream onto the factory premises until the afternoon. The musicians from the “Max Funk Institute” play, songs from James Brown to Earth Wind & Fire are played, the atmosphere is exuberant. If you’re lucky, you’ll get one of the 60 jars of blossom honey on offer that day. A year ago, a colony of bees got lost on a wall in a factory building. Jörg Biehler – head of shell maintenance and an amateur beekeeper – caught the animals together with comrades from the Opel fire department. On the one hand, for security reasons, because there are workplaces very close by. “But also to give the bees a chance of survival,” says Biehler. He relocated them elsewhere on the factory premises.
Blossom honey from the factory premises
There are now two bee colonies that he looks after today. Jörg Biehler voluntarily fills the honey he produces into jars. He gives them away at the employee party in return for a donation. “One hundred percent of the proceeds go to the children’s hospice of Central Germany,” he says. His hobby is a good balance to his work: “Sometimes I just sit in front of the hives and watch the animals.” He is sure: “You can learn a lot from the bees. For example, how they organize themselves and accomplish unique things in the community, such as building honeycombs,” he says.
“One hundred percent of the donations collected for the Opel honey go to the Children’s Hospice of Central Germany.”
– Hobby beekeeper Jörg Biehler –
Grand Opel honey: Colleague Jörg Biehler looks after the two bee colonies on the Eisenach factory premises and fills the natural product into jars.
Coveted harvest: The blossom honey is sold in return for a donation. One hundred percent of the profits go to the children’s hospice of Central Germany.
With a strong voice and crisp brass: The Max Funk Institute ensures groovy sound and good vibes.
Grandland meets Wartburg: The “automobile world eisenach” museum presents classics “Made in Eisenach” on the premises.
Dream in pink and red: the kids can have a great time on the bouncy castle.
While the children decorate a bodyshell with colorful paint or have fun on the bouncy castle, the adults fortify themselves with coffee specialties and grilled sausages. Another highlight is still waiting: on the factory test track, visitors can experience the driving characteristics of the new Grandland as passengers. It goes over waves, thresholds and cobblestones. Thanks to the Frequency Selective Damping technology, the Grandland absorbs bumps effortlessly. “This innovation is even included as standard in the electric and plug-in hybrid variants,” as Tim Badersbach previously explained at the product presentation.
It’s a successful day for the plant – with many encounters, stimulating conversations and highlights about the new model “Made in Eisenach”. And so the Eisenach managing director, Jörg Escher, would like to thank all of the helpers: “You all helped to present us in the best possible way today!”
October 2024
Photos: Andreas Liebschner