Key Takeaways
- E-mobility pivot: Transitioning from classical ICE engine terminology to advanced electronics and electrolyte chemistry.
- HSE & High Voltage: Working in high-voltage environments requiring dedicated safety clearances and ESD protective gear.
- Crisis management: Managing an interpreting team under total isolation protocols (Red/Blue teams) without disrupting training continuity.
- Technology: In-depth understanding of 'wedding' processes (joining cells into modules) and thermal management systems.
- Pandemic logistics: Navigating daily operations during lockdowns, closed borders, and ubiquitous health measures.
Electric revolution in the shadow of the pandemic
The end of 2020 posed a severe test for the entire industrial sector. At the height of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, my interpreting team and I were deployed to Kamenz, Saxony — the heart of the electric transformation for Stuttgart’s automotive giant. The Accumotive GmbH & Co. KG plant produces battery packs for electrified Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
The challenge was twofold. First, the technical scope: interpreters had to shift instantly from internal combustion terminology to E-Mobility concepts. Instead of fuel injectors and turbochargers, discussions centered on cell modules, busbars, thermal interface materials, and Battery Management System (BMS) controls.
Red and Blue: the logistics of isolation
Second, operating conditions: to prevent a single outbreak from halting production, the plant implemented a strict division into Red and Blue teams. These groups had zero physical contact — crossing paths only through airlocks and using separate entrances and locker rooms. As coordinator, I managed interpreter schedules to guarantee uninterrupted linguistic support while strictly maintaining team isolation. Furthermore, every shift began with automated temperature checks at plant security and ended with the disinfection of TourGuide audio equipment.
High Voltage: interpreting under pressure
Working at Accumotive demanded a safety culture fundamentally different from traditional assembly plants. We entered High Voltage (HV) zones where battery pack voltages reached up to 400V. Interpreters needed to master not only technical vocabulary but also strict HSE safety protocols.
Antistatic gowns, specialized footwear, and strict adherence to high-voltage safety rules were mandatory. We interpreted assembly processes for combining cell modules into battery packs, helium leak testing procedures, and HMI control operations.
Every project leaves lasting memories. Notable takeaways and anecdotes from this assignment include:
- Extinguishing a battery fire is far more complex than it appears. While CO2 extinguishers or immersion tanks are used, submerging a battery pack is not meant to starve the fire of oxygen — as decomposing cathode materials release oxygen internally. Instead, immersion serves to dissipate heat energy. The water acts as a massive heat sink to cool adjacent cells below their ignition threshold, halting thermal runaway.
- Breaking a window pane is harder than expected. We learned this firsthand when our drivers inadvertently locked themselves out of their apartment on their first Sunday. Clad in t-shirts and flip-flops, they left their documents and bus keys inside. A quick cigarette break ultimately required replacing a glass window.
- The senior member of our team, Piotr, had studied in Dresden. Beyond guiding us to former student hangouts during city walks, he shared fascinating historical insights and personal stories.
- At the time, the shop floor at the Kamenz facility was overwhelmingly Polish-speaking, with all printed signage published bilingually. It almost felt like a Polish plant employing a small group of German specialists.
Despite challenging circumstances — lockdowns, closed restaurants, and deserted Dresden streets — this project offered a fascinating window into the future of mobility. Steaks enjoyed in quiet corners of an empty city center became our small ritual for maintaining normalcy during unprecedented times.
Verified references
