Associated Environmental Systems (AES) is proud to announce that July 26, 2024, is the two-year anniversary of our ATPPRIME patent. The past two years have been full of hard work and amazing accomplishments, and we’re excited to share our achievements and what lies ahead. Forward and upward.
ATTPRIME Patent: A Look Back
First introduced in 2018 as part of the All Test Platform (ATP) series, ATPPRIME enables users to charge and discharge cells in controlled environments for research, development, and production purposes. The patent, filed in 2019 and accepted in 2022, further advances AES’s differentiation from environmental test chamber manufacturers by setting the standard for cutting-edge battery testing fixtures.
What Does ATPPRIME Accomplish for Battery Testing?
ATPPRIME allows for rapidly changing cells and cell types between tests and provides the highest density per square foot of environmental test chamber space available for battery testing. ATPPRIME combines multiple components critical for battery testing into a configurable, scalable, safe, high-density battery testing platform. Key features include:
- The ability to change from one style of holder to another or support multiple configurations for virtually any cell type: coin, cylindrical, prismatic, pouch, and pack.
- The integrated Battery Interface Boards (BIB) ensure that precise, strong charge and discharge data signals are transmitted from each cell to the user’s battery cycler.
- Easy-access sliding shelves that provide safe battery insertion into the test environment with no external disconnect required.
- Up to four custom-engineered epoxy shelves maintain flat surfaces, distributed airflow, and optimal configuration.
The First of the ATP Series
The ATP Series all started with ATPPRIME. Today, the series comprises the patented ATPPRIME, ATPFLEX (battery testing fixtures that can be added to existing chambers), and the patent-pending ATPHEAVY (battery testing fixtures for large format and prismatic cells, capable of testing up to 1200 amps per channel).
Initially tailored for the consumer electronics industry, ATPPRIME focused on testing smaller, lower amp-hour batteries. This allowed industries to test multiple cell geometries across four shelves while monitoring cell health at different temperatures. However, the need for a different solution became apparent with sectors such as EV and energy storage applications leaning towards larger formats and higher capacity cells. This evolution prompted the expansion of our ATP line to include ATPHEAVY, designed to accommodate larger format prismatic cells in a pneumatic fixture. This fixture allows for high-current testing without any modifications to the cell. As the battery testing industry rapidly grew with new cell chemistries proving to be more efficient and have longer cycle lives, ATPHEAVY had to adapt. This demand led AES to create the ATP ADAPTABLE, addressing the complex landscape of battery form factors and types.
Looking to the Future
Our ATPPRIME patent has opened doors of opportunities for AES. Over the past decades, we’ve grown internally to have over 70,000 sq ft of manufacturing space, 150+ employees, 24+ service engineers, an in-house engineering team, and a full-stack software development team. And we’re still growing!
We invite you to be on the lookout for upcoming innovations and achievements. Download our ATP Cost of Ownership White Paper and browse our ATP series to learn more about the value of owning one of our battery test fixtures and how they can save you time and money.
