Select your location:

Country

Select your language:

  • Spanish
  • English
  • German
  • English
  • English
  • English
  • French
  • Dutch
  • Portuguese
  • English
  • French
  • Chinese
  • English
  • Czech
  • English
  • English
  • French
  • German
  • English
  • Hungarian
  • English
  • English
  • English
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • English
  • Chinese
  • Spanish
  • Dutch
  • English
  • Polish
  • Portuguese
  • Romanian
  • English
  • Chinese
  • Slovak
  • Korean
  • Spanish
  • Swedish
  • English
  • German
  • English
  • French
  • Chinese
  • Thai
  • Turkish
  • English
  • English
  • Vietnamese

Automation led to rapid expansion for NEL

They may be one of the oldest still active companies in the world. But Norway's NEL, which makes electrolysers for hydrogen production, is in a field that feels very much of the moment. In recent years, the company has invested heavily in automation.

High level of automation in the factory in Herøya, Norway

From 1927, when NEL was founded, and for the next 74 years, all production work was done manually. In 1991, a certain amount of automation entered the business and in 2019 the company took a completely new approach. They began building a new, highly automated production line in the factory in Heröya, Norway.  In connection with the reorganisation, they chose KUKA as their supplier. - ‘You see a lot of bright yellow KUKA robots in the factory,’ says Anders Bosson, expansion manager at NEL. 
The newsletter meets Anders Bosson at KUKA's system partner day in Gothenburg, where he has travelled to give a talk about NEL's journey from manual production to automation.

Anders Bosson, expansion manager på NEL

Tenfold increase in production

Since the investment in automation in 2019, they have built up another production line in Heröya. They now produce electrolysers equivalent to one gigawatt of hydrogen production every year. In addition, NEL has production in Wallingford, Connecticut. - ‘Since we started automating, we have increased our production tenfold,’ says Bosson.
Historically, hydrogen has been used, among other things, to produce ammonia for fertiliser production. Today, there are other possibilities, such as powering vehicles or creating energy storage systems. - It's a clean energy source that has a lot of potential. The market has grown a lot in recent years, although we are currently seeing a certain gap in demand due to interest rates and geopolitics. 
 

Video NEL
Production line 2 in Heröya.
Norwegian NEL, which manufactures electrolysers on a large scale, has in recent years moved from small-scale to large-scale production. In connection with this, they have also automated on a broad front.- ‘We have implemented a major and rapid change,’ says Anders Bosson, expansion manager at NEL.

Intek, a partner to trust

Why did you choose KUKA as your robot supplier? - We wanted a strong global partner, and they are one of the leading suppliers. Another strong reason for the choice is related to the system integrator Intek, which works closely with KUKA Nordic, and which has NEL as a customer.
 

At Intek, it is Vegar Røsåsberget, salesman and technical project manager, who has customer responsibility for NEL.  - ‘A company with strong growth that is very inspiring to work with. NEL is one of our biggest customers,’ he says. For him, the relationship began five years ago when NEL was in the early stages of building its new factory in Heröya. 
- ‘We started with a pre-project to develop different solutions,’ he says. ‘Among other things, they realised that the factory needed access to a wide range of different robot models.
- Everything from large heavy duty machines to small robots, and that range is something that KUKA can deliver. In addition, I knew that they could also provide us with the peripheral equipment that would be needed, such as rotating shafts, servomotors, conveyors and more.  In addition, there is various software for simulation. 
- Plus they are always there to support us. A very good partner with whom we have a typical win-win relationship,’ says Vegar Røsåsberget.
A very good partner with whom we have a typical win-win relationship,’ says Vegar Røsåsberget.
KUKA Nordic's sales manager Kim Reeslev also endorses this. - Cooperation is very, very good, he says, According to him, Intek is one of the single largest system partner for KUKA Nordic. And that they have reached the position they have, he thinks is completely well deserved.
 

- They possess enormous expertise. Quite simply a very good integrator,

Kim Reeslev, Sales Director GI

Find KUKA system partners in your area

Find the right partner for your industry or specific challenge here.