Greece’s Sunlight Group has announced a major step forward for its Lehmann Marine battery systems subsidiary with a new automated production line becoming fully operational.

The lead and lithium group said on September 10 the 300MWh per annum capacity line at its Xanthi plant is dedicated to producing batteries for its majority-owned subsidiary.

Further production lines could be added at Xanthi in future, Sunlight said.

The move comes 18 months after Sunlight acquired a 51% stake in Lehmann in a “multi-million euro” deal.

At the heart of Lehmann’s existing product portfolio are two battery systems ― CUBE and AQUBE.

Sunlight said it has recently completed the successful assembly and quality control of its first 82 CUBE battery units. While assembly and production is at Xanthi, final factory acceptance testing is conducted in the presence of customers at Lehmann’s facilities in Hamburg, Germany.

Sunlight said it now aims to establish an integrated European design-to-production chain for advanced maritime battery systems, backed up by installation and servicing.

CEO Lampros Bisalas said Lehmann draws on the Sunlight Group’s combined expertise including industrial scale and manufacturing know-how.

“At the same time, we are building on our strong industrial base in Greece, contributing to the transition towards cleaner and more efficient maritime transportation.”

CUBE, introduced in 2023, is an air-cooled LFP system with patented cooling technology and a modular, flexible architecture.

Lehmann Marine MD Alexander Lehmann has said the unit’s compact module design offers a clear weight and volume advantage for shipbuilding. It serves ferries, yachts and offshore workboats at up to 1C charge and discharge rates.

AQUBE is the firm’s next-generation water-cooled LFP system, which is the successor to Lehmann’s original water-cooled COBRA.

Lehmann said AQUBE is purpose-built for high-power applications up to 3.5C such as peak shaving and fast turnaround operations. Lehmann said it combines the thermal performance of water cooling with the modularity and flexibility established by CUBE. First deliveries are scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.

Lehmann has recently expanded operations in the Benelux, Norway and Denmark.