TEP Birmingham is proud to host companies tackling some of the complex challenges shaping the transition to a cleaner economy. Battery manufacturing is scaling rapidly, but increasing production also brings a growing challenge: how to identify defects early enough to avoid wasting valuable materials, energy and time.
CELMETRIX (formerly Hy-Met) is developing advanced testing technology to help manufacturers identify problems earlier, improve quality, and reduce waste as production scales.
The new name reflects an important evolution for the Birmingham-based business. Originally focused on hydrogen metering, the company pivoted towards battery testing in late 2023, applying its expertise in ultrasonic sensing to an industry with a growing need for faster, non-destructive quality assurance.
Seeing Inside the Battery
Battery manufacturing is complex and resource intensive. When defects are only identified once a cell reaches the end of production, the time, energy and valuable materials already invested can be lost.
At the heart of CELMETRIX’s approach is ultrasound. Their technology can look inside battery cells without damaging or disrupting them, allowing manufacturers to identify potential issues while cells are still moving through production.
CELMETRIX’s inline system uses specialist sensors and analytics to assess internal cell quality directly on the production line, detecting problems such as structural inconsistencies, improper filling and gas formation within seconds.
Alongside its production-line technology, CELMETRIX is developing a compact tester for research and development, forming part of a wider ambition to provide testing solutions from early battery development through to manufacturing and eventually, end-of-life assessment.
From Innovation to Commercial Opportunity
That technology is now progressing towards market. The company received over £200,000 of Innovate UK funding for its ACT-SYS a project focused on developing rapid inspection technology for pouch-cell batteries during manufacture.
As CELMTERIX moves closer to commercialisation the focus is shifting towards the products, supply-chain partnerships and business model needed to take its technology to customers
Investment will be central to that next stage. CELMETRIX is also seeking between £500,000 and £1 million through a combination of investments and grants. The funding would support the creation of a state-of-the-art battery testing laboratory, continued product development and team growth, with the company aiming to serve customers internationally within the next 12-18 months.
Growing at TEP Birmingham
CELMETRIX, then known as Hy-Met at the time, first joined TEP Birmingham through the second cohort of the Climate Innovation Platform, initially attracted by the site’s hydrogen ecosystem, the company has remained part of the TEP Birmingham community as its focus has evolved towards battery technology.
For founder, Dr Nishal Ramadas, that continuity has been valuable. TEP Birmingham has provided a base for research and development while CELMETRIX has refined its technology, built new connections and prepared for commercial growth. As the business grows, Nishal sees TEP Birmingham continuing to play an important role in its R&D base, supporting further technology development alongside the move towards commercialisation.
“TEP Birmingham has been an important part of our journey since we first joined through the Climate Innovation Platform. We initially joined to connect with the hydrogen ecosystem, but as CELMETRIX has evolved towards battery technology, the support of TEP Birmingham’s R&D environment and its wider clean-tech community has become increasingly valuable. As we move towards commercialisation, we look forward to TEP Birmingham continuing to support our growth.”
Dr Nishal Ramadas, Founder and CEO, CELMETRIX
For CELMETRIX, the next challenge is turning its ultrasonic expertise into practical, scalable tools that can improve how batteries are tested, manufactured and ultimately brought to market.
