CATL, the world’s leading battery manufacturer, will reach an important milestone in its Debrecen investment in 2025, the production of battery cells will begin in the building close to completion. In order to strengthen the supply of skilled workers, CATL Debrecen plans to launch further co-operations with educational institutions and train local staff by setting up its own training center –CATL Debrecen announced at its press event today in the capital of Hajdú-Bihar County.
Construction of the battery cell factory is nearing completion
The construction of CATL Debrecen’s battery cell factory in the Southern Industrial Park in the outskirts of Debrecen is in the home stretch. The company announced in 2022 that it will build its second European battery plant in Debrecen with a total annual production capacity of 100 GWh. The project is now nearing completion, with the battery cell factory building completed and the mechanical and electrical installations underway. The first battery cells will be produced in the Debrecen factory in 2025, as originally planned.
“In 2022, we announced to build our second European manufacturing unit in Debrecen. Debrecen’s excellent location and good infrastructure for transport and investment environment, as well as the high quality education institutions of the city and its wider region each played an important role in our decision. Overall, Debrecen offers excellent conditions for us to continue building our production and supply-chain network, thus supporting the European electrification process,” said Jason Chen, General Manager, Operations CATL Europe, at a press conference in Debrecen.
The European leader of CATL explained that production at the Debrecen plant will be based on state-of-the-art industry 4.0 technology, and the size of the plant has been optimized to reduce the energy demand without downsizing production capacity. Production will take place in a closed system and the company places great emphasis on the environmental monitoring system. As announced in March 2024 in order to reduce water consumption CATL will implement so-called adiabatic cooling towers and use grey water for cooling in the factory, thus decreasing the water demand by about 50 percent.
An important milestone of recent months was that as a response to clients’ demand CATL started module assembly in September in a leased building of 60 thousand square meters next to its construction site in the South Industrial Park of Debrecen.
Attracting young talents to Debrecen
CATL focuses on attracting local employees from the region and Hungary. The company is running its third recruitment campaign and its headcount exceeded 400. In addition to the intensification of local recruitment, CATL’s Chinese specialists will arrive in 2025 to install and implement the industry 4.0 production technology and transfer the know-how of operating the machines to the local staff.
“Our priority is to provide young people an attractive and inspiring career path and continuous training opportunity, as well as a competitive salary. CATL strives to be a good employer and a good neighbor wherever it operates a manufacturing plant around the world. We participated this year in the most iconic events of the city, such as the Debrecen Drive, the Campus Festival and the Flower Carnival and plan to be part of this year’s Advent as well. We want to continue taking an active part in Debrecen’s cultural and social life in the future as well and further strengthen our cooperation with educational institutions,” said Noémi Sidló, Communications and PR Manager of CATL Debrecen.
CATL Debrecen has already signed a strategic agreement with the Debrecen Vocational Training Center in February 2024 to launch dual education program, followed by a strategic partnership agreement with the University of Miskolc signed in June. The strategic agreement with the university of Debrecen signed in October 2024 crowned the company’s activities on educational co-operations this year.
Emerging corporate social responsibility
CATL is internationally known for its carbon-neutral achievements and green manufacturing. The company announced in 2023 that it will achieve carbon-neutrality in its core operations by 2025 and already 9 of its factories received the carbon-neutral qualification. CATL aims to reach carbon-neutrality in Debrecen as well soon after the start of its operations. In addition to installing sustainable, energy-efficient production technology, the company will participate in several greening projects. As part of their local CSR activities the company joined the greening program of the Future of Debrecen initiative In November, financing the planting of 200 container trees.
“As part of our commitment to Debrecen we have already carried out several social responsibility projects since the spring of 2023. Besides focusing on young talents CATL supports children and people in need. In line with our CSR strategy, we have contributed to the medical equipment purchase program of the University of Debrecen’s Pediatric Clinic and a donation agreement with the Children’s Home Center of Hajdú-Bihar County is on its way. We also organized food donations at Christmas and Easter and we plan to donate to people in need during this Christmas as well.” – explained Balázs Szilágyi, Senior Public Affairs Manager.
(CATL)
