For all the billions invested in electric vehicle battery cells, the final, assembled pack remains something of a black box. Manufacturers can test individual cells in the lab, but once hundreds are sealed into a 500-kilogram module, the only way to check for internal faults has been to wait for a failure in the field. That wait, measured in costly warranty claims and potential safety risks, is the quality gap a small Dutch startup is trying to close with a medical-grade tool adapted for the factory floor [BESTmag, May 2026].
INNER BV, operating as Innertech, is building non-invasive CT and X-ray scanners paired with machine learning software to peer inside fully assembled EV battery packs. The Eindhoven-based company’s bet is that inline, high-throughput computed tomography can become a standard end-of-line check, catching defects as small as 50 microns in a matter of minutes [innertech.nl, 2026].
The production-line diagnosis
The core of INNER’s proposition is speed meeting precision. Laboratory CT scanners exist, but they are too slow for the relentless pace of a gigafactory. INNER’s system, dubbed concept Y3, is engineered to handle the weight and size of a complete pack and integrate directly into the assembly line flow [F6S]. The scanner generates a three-dimensional internal map, which proprietary AI software then analyzes to flag a wide array of latent physical faults.
- Torn wires and leakages. The system can identify broken electrical connections and coolant leaks that are invisible from the outside.
- Swollen cells and physical deformations. It detects subtle cell expansion or mechanical damage from the assembly process.
- Foreign object debris. Even small contaminants trapped inside the sealed pack can be spotted before they cause a short circuit [innertech.nl, 2026].
The goal is to move battery quality assurance from a sample-based, statistical exercise to a 100% inspection regime.
A partnership as a path to market
For a hardware-heavy deep tech startup, commercial traction is the steepest hill to climb. INNER’s most significant validation to date is a strategic co-development agreement. In May 2026, the company announced a partnership with Toptec Co., a South Korean manufacturer of display and semiconductor production equipment [BatteryIndustry.net, May 2026].
| Partner | Role | Strategic Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Toptec Co. | Co-development & Manufacturing Partner | Provides industrial scale, production expertise, and access to the Asian battery manufacturing market. |
| HighTechXL | Accelerator | Provides venture-building support and connection to the Eindhoven deep-tech ecosystem. |
This collaboration is critical. Toptec brings manufacturing scale, industry credibility, and a direct channel to the Asian battery production ecosystem. Together, the companies are working to launch a high-speed, inline 3D X-ray system tailored for global EV battery production lines, aiming for commercial availability by late 2026 [BESTmag, May 2026].
The competitive scan
INNER is not alone in seeing industrial CT as a critical tool for advanced manufacturing. Its most direct competitor appears to be Lumafield, a U.S.-based company offering automated CT scanning for product design and quality assurance [lumafield.com, 2026].
- Throughput and automation. Winning on the assembly line is less about ultimate resolution and more about scan speed, automation, and smooth integration with factory systems.
- The AI layer. The value shifts from simply capturing a 3D image to automatically diagnosing specific, actionable faults.
- The hardware-software bundle. As a combined system, INNER aims to control the entire stack, from radiation source to diagnostic report.
What standard quality control looks like today
For the automotive engineers and quality managers INNER is trying to reach, the current standard of care is a patchwork of indirect measures. Cell testing is exhaustive, but once assembled, pack inspection is largely external: checking voltages, temperatures, and external seals. Some manufacturers use 2D X-ray, which provides a limited view, or perform destructive tear-downs on sample packs. The critical failure mode, internal physical defects hidden within a sealed unit, often goes undetected until the vehicle is with a customer. If the technology works as promised, it could turn a final, costly unknown into a routine checkpoint.
Sources
- [BESTmag, May 2026] Toptec and Inner partner on in-line 3D X-ray for EV battery production | https://www.bestmag.co.uk/toptec-inner-in-line-3d-x-ray-for-ev-battery/
- [innertech.nl, 2026] INNER - A CT for your EV | https://www.innertech.nl/news-and-features
- [F6S] INNER BV - F6S | https://www.f6s.com/company/inner-bv
- [BatteryIndustry.net, May 2026] Toptec and INNER partner to launch high-speed in-line 3D x-ray for global EV battery production | https://batteryindustry.net/toptec-and-inner-partner-to-launch-high-speed-in-line-3d-x-ray-for-global-ev-battery-production/
- [lumafield.com, 2026] Webinar: Battery inspection with automated industrial CT | https://www.lumafield.com/article/webinar-battery-inspection-with-rapid-automated-and-high-volume-industrial-ct-scanning
- [LinkedIn] INNER BV | LinkedIn | https://nl.linkedin.com/company/innertech-ai
- [HighTechXL] Inner - HighTechXL | https://www.hightechxl.com/venture/inner/