Development and manufacturing of lithium-ion cells, battery modules, packs and energy storage systems for e-Transport, marine applications and stationary applications.
Leclanché SA
Yverdon-les-Bains (Switzerland) · Willstätt (Germany) · Anderson, IN (USA) · Oslo (Norway) · Versailles (France) · Chesterfield (UK)New on Amplifa
About Leclanché
Leclanché SA is an energy storage company founded in 1909 in Yverdon-les-Bains (Switzerland) that develops and manufactures storage solutions based on lithium-ion cell technology. The vertically integrated company covers the entire technology value chain from electrochemistry and self-developed cells (G/NMC, G/NMCA, XNO, formerly LTO), modules with its own battery management system and packs through to the liquid-cooled Marine Rack System Navius MRS-3 and energy management software. Cell manufacturing takes place at the German site in Willstätt using a water-based electrode manufacturing process (WBB) and PFAS-free material development; the automated module production line in Yverdon-les-Bains (built by Comau) has a capacity of more than 250 MWh per year. The business areas comprise Stationary Solutions, E-Mobility (e-Transport Solutions) and Specialty Battery Systems with applications in marine shipping, rail (including traction battery systems for Bombardier), commercial vehicles, robotics as well as grid-scale and large-scale storage. Reference projects include, among others, the fully electric autonomous container ship Yara Birkeland, the E-Ferry Ellen and the 120-MW/53-MWh IESO storage project in Canada. The company employs more than 350 staff, is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ticker LECN) and maintains representative offices in eight countries. In September 2026, the German subsidiaries Leclanché GmbH and Leclanché Services GmbH
- Site
- Yverdon-les-Bains
- Processes
- Lithium-ion cell manufacturing (electrode production, water-based binder process), Battery module manufacturing (M3 modules, automated production line), Battery pack assembly (with air/water cooling, BMS, switchboxes), Marine Rack System manufacturing (Navius MRS-3, series production), Battery Management System (BMS) development and integration, Energy Management Software (EMS) development for BESS, Design, manufacturing and maintenance of hybrid and electric locomotive traction systems
- Materials
- Graphite-Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt-Oxide (G/NMC), Graphite-Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt-Aluminium-Oxide (G/NMCA), Niobium Oxide (XNO), Lithium Titanate (LTO), Lithium-ion, Graphite-Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt-Oxide, Graphite-Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt-Aluminium-Oxide, Niobium Oxide
- Certificates
- IRIS (International Railway Industry Standard), DNV Type Approval (Navius MRS-3), Lloyd's Register Type Approval (Navius MRS-3), Bureau Veritas Type Approval (Navius MRS-3), RINA Type Approval (MRS)
- Industries
- Marine/Shipping, Rail Transport, Commercial Vehicles (Buses/Trucks), Stationary Energy Storage/Grid Operators, Renewable Energies, Robotics & AGV
- 01
Electrode manufacturing (water-based WBB process, PFAS-free)
- 02
Lithium-ion cell manufacturing (Willstätt)
- 03
Battery module manufacturing with BMS (automated line, Comau)
- 04
Pack assembly incl. cooling, BMS and switchboxes
- 05
Marine Rack System (Navius MRS-3) manufacturing
- 06
Energy management software (EMS) and system integration
- 07
Project engineering and commissioning (incl. Build-Own-Operate)
Cell Chemistries & Technologies
Graphite-Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt-Oxide
High-energy cell chemistry for e-Transport and stationary applications, in production since 2014/2015.
Graphite-Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt-Aluminium-Oxide
High-capacity cathode material with increased energy density, presented for marine applications at WATTS UP 2026.
Niobium Oxide
Cell chemistry for applications with high charge/discharge rates and long service life.
Lithium Titanate
Fast-charge-capable cell chemistry, in full production from 2014, used among others in the E-speedboat BB Green.
Sites
Yverdon-les-Bains
CHHeadquarters, R&D and module production (Leclanché SA, E-Mobility SA, SBS SA, Technologies SA)
- Materials
- G/NMC
- Automated module production and testing line (built by Comau, >250 MWh/year)
Willstätt
DECell manufacturing and R&D (Leclanché GmbH; insolvency filing September 2026)
- Lot size
- up to 1 million cells (production line capacity)
- Materials
- G/NMC, G/NMCA, XNO, LTO
- Automated cell manufacturing line (2013)
- Pilot line for large-format cells (2009)
Anderson, IN
USSubsidiary Leclanché North America, Inc.
Oslo
NORepresentative office Leclanché Norway
Versailles
FRRepresentative office Leclanché France SASU
Chesterfield
UKSubsidiary Leclanché UK Limited
Products & Systems
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lithium-ion cell manufacturing (electrode production, water-based binder process)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Graphite/NMC, Graphite/NMCA, Niobium Oxide (XNO), Lithium Titanate (LTO) |
| Battery module manufacturing (M3 modules, automated production line)Assembly | – | – | – | – | G/NMC |
| Battery pack assembly (with air/water cooling, BMS, switchboxes)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Lithium-ion |
| Marine Rack System manufacturing (Navius MRS-3, series production)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Lithium-ion |
| Battery Management System (BMS) development and integrationEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Energy Management Software (EMS) development for BESSEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Design, manufacturing and maintenance of hybrid and electric locomotive traction systemsEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
3 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automated cell manufacturing line | Leclanché | – | – | 2013 | Willstätt, Germany |
| Automated module production and testing line | Leclanché (built by Comau) | – | – | 2019/2021 | Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland |
| Fully automated pilot line for large-format cells | Leclanché | – | – | 2009 | Willstätt, Germany |
Quality & Certifications
The systems are tested at cell, module and system level against mechanical, thermal and electrical abuse; certifications include IRIS (2020) as well as Type Approvals from Lloyd's Register, Bureau Veritas, DNV and RINA for the marine rack systems.
| Evidence | Yverdon-les-Bains | Willstätt |
|---|---|---|
| IRIS (International Railway Industry Standard) | ||
| DNV Type Approval (Navius MRS-3) | ||
| Lloyd's Register Type Approval (Navius MRS-3) | ||
| Bureau Veritas Type Approval (Navius MRS-3) | ||
| RINA Type Approval (MRS) |
History
- 1909
Founded in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland.
- 1964
Start of series production of mercury button cells.
- 1971
Construction of a new production facility for industrial batteries.
- 1987
Production of waterproof lead-acid batteries under license from Chloride, England.
- 2002
Reorientation towards integration expertise and future technologies.
- 2006
Acquisition of Bullith AG (later Leclanché Lithium GmbH), a spin-off of the Fraunhofer Institute; establishment of the Willstätt site.
- 2008
Move to the modern production facility in Yverdon-les-Bains.
- 2009
100th anniversary; installation of a fully automated pilot line for large-format cells in Willstätt.
- 2011
Start of construction of the new production plant in Willstätt; introduction of water-based electrode production.
- 2012
Production facility with a capacity of up to 1 million cells; start of delivery of storage modules.
- 2013
Ramp-up of the fully automated production line for lithium-ion cells.
- 2014
Start of Graphite/NMC production; full production of lithium-titanate cells.
- 2017
Fully vertically integrated energy storage company.
- 2018
Joint venture with Exide Industries (India); 100-MWh milestone in stationary storage projects.
- 2019
Preferred Global Provider agreement with Bombardier Transportation; supply of the largest E-ferry project in Denmark; commissioning of Comau for an automated module production line.
- 2020
Strategic reorganization and partnership agreement with the Eneris Group; IRIS certification; launch of LeBlock.
- 2021
Commissioning of the Yara Birkeland; introduction of a high-volume module production line (>250 MWh/year); 65-Ah pouch cell.
- 2022
Development of 3rd-generation marine battery systems (MRS-3); DNV and Lloyd's Register certifications; outfitting of the MS Jungfrau.
- 2025
Type Approvals from Lloyd's Register and Bureau Veritas for Navius MRS-3; start of series production in Yverdon-les-Bains.
- 2026
Presentation of NMCA high-capacity cathodes at WATTS UP 2026; insolvency filings of the German subsidiaries at the Offenburg District Court; delisting proceedings on the SIX.