Packet Digital, a provider of power management solutions for autonomous systems, has officially secured the location for its future battery cell plant in Fargo, North Dakota.
With the location and building in place, Packet Digital will begin construction on the facility and acquire the equipment needed to manufacture its highly reliable, high-performance drone battery cells directly in the United States.
Once completed, the company will produce high-performance battery cells and assemble batteries at its new 80,000-square-foot facility in Fargo. This plant will be the company’s third location.
The decision to build this state-of-the-art drone battery plant is part of Packet Digital’s broader strategy to streamline the drone battery manufacturing process.
Packet Digital is partnering closely with raw material suppliers across the U.S. to ensure a domestic supply of raw materials. The company is also collaborating with universities on innovative approaches to producing lithium-ion batteries with localized raw materials.
Construction is set to begin in 2024, with the plant expected to start manufacturing battery cells by the end of 2025.
Packet Digital CEO, Terri Zimmerman, commented; “The Department of Defense has made it a priority to ramp up domestic production of critical UAS components.
“As an industry leader in building battery and charging systems that are safe, reliable and high performing, the time was right to streamline the supply chain and fully manufacture our products from our high-energy density battery cells and electronics to assembled battery packs, right here in the U.S.
“Building this facility is an important step towards UAS battery manufacturing in the United States, and the support we’ve received from city, state and federal governments, as well as university systems has helped make this possible.”
