Slate factory up and running - photos & video (A New Day in Warsaw)!! 👷‍♂️🎬

[cadblu]

Are these batteries?

Although not confirmed, those heavy looking pallets are likely to be staged battery pack components, as the orange color typically denotes high voltage. In addition, all HV harnesses used on EV's are orange so that First Responders are aware to stay clear of any lines that need to be cut if people are trapped inside.

 

[EJensen]

Although not confirmed, those heavy looking pallets are likely to be staged battery pack components, as the orange color typically denotes high voltage. In addition, all HV harnesses used on EV's are orange so that First Responders are aware to stay clear of any lines that need to be cut if people are trapped inside.

Very interesting. Thanks for the insight.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Are these batteries?

Nah, those looks like carriers for some process of the assembly. Some have the Flexlift labelling visible which is a brand of lifting platforms. You can see several of them staged on the line in a later shot

Although not confirmed, those heavy looking pallets are likely to be staged battery pack components, as the orange color typically denotes high voltage. In addition, all HV harnesses used on EV's are orange so that First Responders are aware to stay clear of any lines that need to be cut if people are trapped inside.

If those are battery packs, how do they get fastened to the chassis? Where's the cabling?

The factory floor overview picture seems to indicate they are more of a carrier than a battery assembly.

 

[cadblu]

If those are battery packs, how do they get fastened to the chassis? Where's the cabling?

The factory floor overview picture seems to indicate they are more of a carrier than a battery assembly.

On closer inspection of those pallets I agree. They could also be used as an alignment tool if some sort. There are no visible lifting eyes so they probably have forklift pockets or channels down below.

 

[NMNeil]

It does look a little tight; I'm sure it's very efficient. Still better than anything I've put together in Satisfactory 😂

Maybe we're just seeing the body shop, while the motor, battery pack and upholstery will be fitted in another part of the factory.

 

[mattlach]

Does the factory look a little small to anyone else?

Supposedly the plant is supposed to employ some 2,000 people, so it can't be that small.

That said, if you lay out your manufacturing lines right, you don't have to have a huge plant in order to put out serious volume.

One of the benefits Slate has is that every vehicle leaves the production line in an identical state. That allows them to be much more space efficient than with traditional auto manufacturing where you need a multitude of different lines for different equipment levels, etc.

 

[Bee]

If Slate is able to produce 150k vehicles a year in the Warsaw factory, it’s actually more efficient per square foot than some Tesla factories.

1. Tesla Fremont .120 vehicle/sq ft
2. Slate Warsaw .107
3. Tesla Berlin .087
4. Tesla Texas .037

 

[pfan760]

If Slate is able to produce 150k vehicles a year in the Warsaw factory, it’s actually more efficient per square foot than some Tesla factories.

That's actually pretty cool! I'm guessing the lack of massive paint booths help. I think Tesla also does their own stampings and cradles too on-site and that type of machinery is huge!

 

[aquaman811]

I think this is paint booth/oven? They need to paint and cure the frame somewhere. I know asking for SS would be too much, but with plastic panels it would last forever.

I can’t remember where I saw it, but there was a comment that frames would be coming from a trusted supplier, meaning they wouldn’t need a paint booth. Maybe that’s a heat booth (if that’s a thing?) to check plastic panel alignment?

 

[Adam W]

If those are battery packs, how do they get fastened to the chassis? Where's the cabling?

The factory floor overview picture seems to indicate they are more of a carrier than a battery assembly.

Spotted those orange carriers in use in this local Indiana news story. Just to put a button on this minor mystery.