Honeywell has announced it will integrate its AI-powered Battery Manufacturing Excellence Platform (Battery MXP) into a battery research lab at the University of Alabama, through a partnership with the Alabama Mobility and Power (AMP) Center. The move marks a step toward building domestic capacity in battery manufacturing at a time when demand for energy storage and electric vehicles continues to rise.
The platform is designed to improve cell yields, reduce startup times for battery production facilities, and optimize manufacturing operations. According to Honeywell, Battery MXP will function as the lab's exclusive automation system, guiding manufacturers on how to scale battery production to meet the output levels required by today's electrification market. Beyond its operational role, it will also serve as a hands-on training resource for engineering students and battery industry professionals across the country.
The AMP Center battery research lab is scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2026 and is expected to be among the first pilot battery production sites made available to external organizations, giving companies the opportunity to test and refine processes before committing to full-scale deployment.
Mike Oatridge, Executive Director of the AMP Center, said the deployment aligns with the center's broader mission of bridging industry, academia, and state-level initiatives. "The deployment of Battery MXP supports Alabama's automotive industry while advancing solutions for data center growth, grid stability, and the state's long-term electrification and economic development goals," he said.
Russ Ford, President of Honeywell Process Automation Solutions, cited workforce readiness as a key factor behind the agreement. "The rapid evolution of battery technology calls for a skilled workforce and advanced production capabilities at large scale, including comprehensive automation platforms powered by AI," Ford said. "AMP's use of Battery MXP is poised to be a catalyst to empower the next generation of engineers in this important industry as it continues to grow."
As part of the arrangement, Honeywell is collaborating with FOM Technologies to address electrode production within Battery MXP. Electrode manufacturing is considered one of the more technically demanding stages of the battery production process, requiring precise control over material composition and coating consistency. The three-way collaboration between Honeywell, FOM Technologies, and the AMP Center is intended to produce a complete end-to-end automation solution at the facility, with a focus on helping original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) produce batteries that meet safety standards for end users.
Students and engineers working at the lab will receive direct experience with Honeywell's automation technologies, with the goal of equipping them with skills applicable to careers in advanced manufacturing. This workforce development component reflects a growing recognition across the industry that scaling battery production requires not just capital investment in equipment, but a trained technical workforce capable of operating and maintaining it.
The AMP Center, based at the University of Alabama, describes itself as a research and development hub focused on mobility and power technologies. Its work spans electric vehicle charging infrastructure, battery energy storage systems, and power delivery solutions aimed at supporting grid stability and the broader transition to electrified transport. The center positions itself as a connector between private industry, academic research, and state economic development efforts in Alabama, a state with a growing footprint in automotive manufacturing.
The partnership comes as the United States continues efforts to develop domestic battery supply chains and reduce dependence on overseas production. Federal investment through legislation such as the Inflation Reduction Act has directed significant funding toward battery manufacturing and electric vehicle adoption, creating demand for skilled workers and production facilities capable of meeting commercial-scale output.
Honeywell is a publicly traded industrial conglomerate listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker HON. Its operations span aerospace technologies, building automation, industrial automation, and energy and sustainability solutions.