Pictures from the abandoned factory premises linked to Northvolt Ett Expansion AB in Skellefteå.
Northvolt AB’s subsidiary, Northvolt Ett Expansion AB, was carrying out the factory expansion in Skellefteå until its bankruptcy filing on October 8 last year. This followed Northvolt’s decision earlier in the autumn to stop the expansion.
The bankruptcy estate comprised vast factory facilities, almost finished battery production lines, and 6.9 billion kronor in supplier debt.
Some assets were already auctioned last autumn, but the main assets are only now being offered for sale. The complex nature of the equipment required time for inventory and understanding its operation.
– It’s been a detective job figuring out how everything is used and how we can best present the materials to potential customers, says Per Henriksson, CEO of PS Auction.
Pictures from the abandoned factory premises linked to Northvolt Ett Expansion AB in Skellefteå.
He personally inspected the abandoned premises and the active battery cell production facility in Skellefteå.
– The equipment in Ett Expansion is unused, much of it still boxed. To understand our inventory, we’ve done extensive work with documents and blueprints, and we’ve also examined the operational factory.
His visit to Skellefteå highlighted the area's scale.
– It’s incredibly large. I felt both proud of the accomplishment and saddened by the incompletion of something so fantastic, says Per, now responsible for maximising the financial recovery from the remaining assets.
The sale includes everything from office supplies and ventilation ducts to intricate machines and complete production lines. Simpler items, like office equipment and electrical panels, will be sold online. More complex assets will be sold through tenders.
– Our goal is to sell as many complete units as possible to maintain their value. We see significant potential value for companies involved in vehicle electrification, says Per
Pictures from the abandoned factory premises linked to Northvolt Ett Expansion AB in Skellefteå.
Pictures from the abandoned factory premises linked to Northvolt Ett Expansion AB in Skellefteå.
At the time of purchase, the value was estimated at three billion kronor, but the buyer will likely pay significantly less than that.
– The buyer has to dismantle, transport and adapt the equipment. I wouldn’t dare guess what the final price might be, but we’re doing everything we can to maximise the returns, and we’re hopeful there are buyers out there who’ll want the machines – especially in other countries, says Per.
As part of the sale, PS Auction has produced 3D material for digital tours. Through it, interested parties – and the general public – can click around inside the factory environments.
– It offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at Sweden’s most talked-about industrial project, says Per.