Telefónica and Siemens are working with Basquevolt, a Basque manufacturer of solid-state battery cells, to launch a prototyping line integrating various digitalisation processes.

Basquevolt has awarded Telefónica the digitalisation services required by this prototype-scale manufacturing plant, both in the provision of connectivity and equipment, as well as in professional services and cybersecurity in both information and operational technologies.

The prototyping line will have industrial connectivity network adjusted to the communication requirements of the machines both in the production process (LAN OT) and the operational systems of the plant, complying with ISA/IEC industrial standards 62443 and ANSI/ISA-95, using Siemens communications equipment from the Scalance family.

Telefónica and Siemens specialists in the industrial sector and Basquevolt’s technical engineering and modelling team have been working for months on a solution that will house the critical systems that operate Basquevolt’s manufacturing processes reliably, ensuring the production of the cells.

The adoption of industrial technology cybersecurity has been key to the plant’s digitalisation solutions. Through Telefónica Tech, a series of solutions have been implemented to protect the industrial perimeter, segment and restrict unwanted traffic, as well as to detect and respond to threats to the Basque company’s end devices.

The first results of this strategic project are expected in the first quarter of 2024. Francisco Carranza, CEO of Basquevolt, said: “The cutting-edge battery technology that will be developed in this prototype plant requires an extremely solid IT/OT network that allows the control and management of devices, processes and infrastructure, guaranteeing continuous improvement in the productivity, quality, efficiency and flexibility of our manufacturing operations.” Adrián García Nevado, B2B director of Telefónica Spain, said: “This alliance with Basquevolt means for Telefónica to develop its digitalisation strategy of pioneering projects and is part of its policy of supporting companies in their transformation processes as a technological reference partner”.

José Ramón Castro, general director of Siemens Digital Industries for Spain and Portugal, said: “Siemens is committed to a cyber-secure digital transformation of the Spanish industry. Our objective is to guarantee the maximum robustness of the facilities and communications networks to minimise the impact of any possible cyber attack.”