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ITB’s annual battery pack integration conference will be held on June 11th, 2025 and focuses on commercialization of solutions to reduce cost while improving performance. A major theme is solutions for integrating battery pack component functions, to simplify designs, and reduce or eliminate materials while continually ensuring safety requirements. The solutions may involve evolution of conventional architectures and components or new highly integrated battery pack designs.
In one conference day you will learn about development priorities, meet OEMs with engineering challenges, and suppliers advancing technologies and designs. This conference promotes exchanging ideas and sets the stage for continuing discussions, meetings, and business collaborations.
Key topics for the conference include:
Register to attend! We welcome organizations to join their industry colleagues to sit in on leading presentations and discover key technologies and developments shaping the future of battery packs, components and materials.
In conjunction to this event, ITB is hosting its annual Thermal Management Systems 2025 conference on June 12th (same venue). Opportunities to participate in both events are available and favorable pricing to attend both events is offered.
For inquiries about participation opportunities, please contact Mr. Bryan Eldredge, Program Director – Conferences, at beldredge@itbgroup.com or call +1 (248) 380-6310.
CONFERENCE AGENDA - Day 1: Automotive Battery Pack Integration 2025 (June 11, 2025)
8:30 a.m. |
Registration, Networking, and Refreshments
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9:15 a.m. |
Opening Remarks
Sean Osborne, Vice President- The ITB Group
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BATTERY CHALLENGES
9:40 a.m. |
Smart Design for Fast Charging: Battery Pack Safety Under High-Power, Cold-Climate Conditions
Jacob Bookwalter, Application Sales Engineer - Element Materials Technology
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10:10 a.m. |
Faster Charging, Extended Range, and Propagation Prevention through Advanced Thermal Management
Bret A. Trimmer, Application Engineering Manager - NeoGraf Solutions
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10:40 a.m. |
Networking Break
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BATTERY THERMAL
11:20 a.m. |
Innovative Flexible Cooler for enhanced Thermal Regulation of EV Battery Cells
Maurizio Bagnasco, System Expert Manager and Luc Milanini, Director of R&D - Hutchinson
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11:50 a.m. |
Oscillating Heat Pipe Thermal Management for Battery Packages
Dr. Corey Wilson, Director of Research and Development - ThermAvant Technologies
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12:20 p.m. |
Lunch
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1:20 p.m. |
Heat-Resistant Pouch Film and Tab Sealing Film for all Solid-State Batteries
Satoshi Takenaka, Manager Next Generation Business Exploration Office - AGC
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KEYNOTE PRESENTATION
1:50 p.m. |
Global Powertrain Transitions and Battery Development Priorities
Darren Nowak, Director Research and Analysis - The ITB Group
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2:30 p.m. |
Networking Break
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BATTERY MATERIALS
3:00 p.m. |
Enhancing Battery Recycling and Second-Life Batteries with AI-Driven Electrical Impedance Spectrometry (EIS)
Clemens van Zeyl, Managing Director - Heimdalytics
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3:30 p.m. |
The Material Difference of Thermoplastics in Enabling Electric Mobility
John Himmelspach Senior Business Development Manager and Dinesh Munjurulimana, Senior Manager - SABIC
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4:00 p.m. |
Closing Remarks
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CONFERENCE AGENDA - Day 2: Thermal Management Systems and Materials (June 12, 2025)
8:30 a.m. |
Registration, Networking and Refreshments
|
9:15 a.m. |
Opening Remarks and KENOTE:
Global Light Vehicle OEM Thermal Management Development Priorities
Sean Osborne, Vice President - The ITB Group
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THERMAL SYSTEMS
10:00 a.m. |
EV Powertrain Thermal Management: Insights into Performance, Range and Efficiency
Dr. Abdul Motin, Staff Engineer, Powertrain Product Development - Rivian Automotive
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10:30 a.m. |
Revolutionizing Thermal Management for Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
Chethan Tembad, Engineering Business Manager - Hutchinson
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11:00 a.m. |
Networking Break
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THERMAL MATERIALS
11:40 a.m. |
Performance and Efficiency: Multi-Layer Tubing for Thermal Management in BEVs
Dr. Christian Kochanek, Business Development Manager, Automotive and Mobility - Evonik
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12:10 p.m. |
New Hydrolysis Resistant PPA for Thermal Management
Michael Pilarski, NA Business Development Manager, PPA - BASF
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12:40 p.m. |
Lunch
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1:40 p.m. |
Thermal Management System and Materials: High Temperature Cooling Lines
Luis Fernando Flores Bustos, Account Manager Automotive - Arkema
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2:10 p.m. |
Sustainable PA66 for EV Thermal Management: Coolant-Resistant Solutions from Recycled Materials
Ji-Hoon Kim, Principal Business Development Leader and Vahid Mortazavian, Senior Product Application Development Manager - Ascend Performance Materials
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2:30 p.m. |
Advancing Coolant Tube Solutions for Battery Electric Vehicles
Murali Chandrasekhar Director of Engineering - Martinrea International
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2:50 p.m. |
Networking Break
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THERMAL COMPONENTS
3:20 p.m. |
Thermal Management System Performance Optimization and Validation Testing using Compact Module-Based Integration
Saima Alam, Thermal Management Engineer and Manoj Billa, Lead Thermal Management Engineer - Hutchinson
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3:50 p.m. |
Game-Changing Thermal Management Valve – Turning the Standards Upside-Down
Christian Elz, Product Engineering Manager - EQYO (Saint-Gobain)
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4:20 p.m. |
Optimized Mechatronics Solutions for Air and Fluid Management to Address Electrification Challenges
Augusto Millan, Sales & Application Manager - Moving Magnet Technologies
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4:50 p.m. |
Closing Remarks
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Note: ITB will photograph the conference for promotional purposes. By participating in the conference you grant ITB permission to use your likeness in any/all conference related promotions.
Conference Speakers
Sean Osborne
Vice President - The ITB Group
Mr. Osborne leads vehicle efficiency, thermal and fluid management initiatives at The ITB Group. He has been developing and implementing strategic visions as a executive in several organizations for 25 years. Over the past 35 years he has accumulated extensive experience in automotive development, including experience working in Europe and China as well as the United States. Areas of his automotive specialization are vehicle efficiency, thermal and fluid management, fuel systems, and communications networks. Mr. Osborne holds Master’s degrees in Engineering and Management from MIT and a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from General Motors Institute.
Jacob Bookwalter
Application Sales Engineer - Element Materials Technology
Mr. Bookwalter is an Application Sales Engineer specializing in validation testing for automotive and defense systems. He currently leads technical proposal development and manages testing projects involving battery systems, thermal management components, and electrical subsystems across internal combustion, hybrid, and electric vehicle platforms. Mr. Bookwalter holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Energy Systems Engineering at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. In his career, he has collaborated with OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers on a range of validation programs and is an active participant in automotive industry events.
Bret Trimmer
Application Engineering Manager - NeoGraf Solutions
Mr. Trimmer works as an Applications Engineering Manager at NeoGraf Solutions and in his career, he has spent many years working with leading maritime battery manufacturers to allow their systems to pass stringent European regulatory standards for thermal runaway. Recently he has focused on the EV, Drone, and Electric Airplane industries with goals to increase range per charge, allow faster charging, and prevent thermal runaway. Mr. Trimmer received his bachelor’s in chemical engineering from The University of Colorado Boulder and an MBA from The University of Phoenix.
Dr. Maurizio Bagnasco
System Expert Manager - Hutchinson
Dr. Bagnasco has been with Hutchinson since 2016, initially as Business Development Manager for SCR lines and now as the System Expert Manager for battery cooling lines and special projects at the Innovation Center in Rivoli. He is co-inventor of several patents in the field of thermal management and fluid systems for electric vehicles. Dr. Bagnasco holds a M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering.
Luc Milanini
Director of R&D - Hutchinson
Mr. Milanini has held several key positions across multiple international locations while at Hutchinson. He began as a Quick Connector Development Engineer in Montargis, later worked as Fuel Product Development Manager in Rivoli, and currently leads the R&D effort in Auburn Hills. Throughout his career, he has developed deep expertise in automotive fluid transfer systems and authored several patents, with a particular focus on plastic materials and quick connector technologies. Mr. Milanini holds a Master of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering from INSA Rennes.
Dr. Corey Wilson
Director of Research and Development - ThermAvant Technologies
Dr. Wilson has 19 years of experience in two-phase thermal fluids with a focus on oscillating heat pipes and is currently Director of Research and Development and ThermAvant Technologies. Prior to this, he worked as a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Missouri conducting corrosion and heat pipe heat-exchanger research for ExxonMobil, and later as an Associate Professor at Dalian Maritime University researching oscillating heat pipes, phase change phenomena, and nanostructures for heat transfer enhancements. Dr. Wilson holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri. He has published over 20 journal and conference papers in the thermofluid field and has been credited with three patents.
Satoshi Takenaka
Manager Next Generation Business Exploration Office - AGC
Mr. Takenaka is a seasoned professional in the chemical and materials industry, currently serving as Manager of the Next Generation Business Development Office at AGC. Since 2017 his responsibilities have spanned marketing strategy, R&D, and business innovation within the chemical sector. Prior to joining AGC, Mr. Takenaka spent over a decade at TOPPAN Inc., where he managed R&D initiatives in the Business Innovation Center of the Living and Industry Division. Mr. Takenaka is currently pursuing a Doctor of Engineering degree at the Institute of Science, Tokyo University, Japan. He is an accomplished inventor with 73 patent applications and 42 registered patents.
Darren Nowak
Director Research and Analysis - The ITB Group
Mr. Nowak joined the ITB Group in 2007 and currently operates as Director - Research and Analysis. He is primarily responsible for direct interface with industry participants and building complex business models to facilitate ITB’s mission to assess automotive business and technology change. He has supported and been the lead investigator in many projects involved in interiors, exterior, under the hood, and most recently has concentrated on plastic/electronic integration. Mr. Nowak has over 25 years of experience in automotive, off road and heavy truck applications, including application and standards engineering roles at Eaton Corporation. He is a graduate of the University of Detroit with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations.
Clemens van Zeyl
Managing Director - Heimdalytics
Mr. van Zeyl has over 40 years of extensive experience as a senior executive and engineer in several electrical engineering and technology companies including GE and Shell. He is also a visionary in implementing and marketing advanced technological products in the industrial and energy sectors. Currently he is Managing Director at Heimdalytics which he co-founded in 2021. Mr. van Zeyl holds a bachelor’s degree in applied science and an MBA, and he is also a professional engineer licensed in Ontario, Canada
John Himmelspach
Senior Business Development Manager - SABIC
Mr. Himmelspach is part of SABIC’s BLUEHERO™ team, a global group of specialists dedicated to advancing thermoplastic materials, expertise, and solutions for the automotive industry’s transition to electric power. In this role, he drives collaborative engagement across the value chain to foster innovation in EV battery systems. Pior to this he served as chief of staff to the CEO and associate director of strategic alliances at VIA Motors, where he played a key role in operations management, business strategy, and industry partnerships. He also held business development and sales roles at Vorwerk Autotec
Dr. Abdul Motin
Staff Engineer, Powertrain Product Development - Rivian Automotive
Dr. Motin is a Staff Engineer at Rivian specializing in powertrain thermal management and lubrication. Here he designed and implemented Rivian's Gen-3 and Gen-4 powertrain hydraulic architecture and thermal management strategy. Prior to this role, Dr. Motin spent eight years as a Global Powertrain Cooling and CFD Engineer at Ford Motor Company, where he earned multiple global and North American innovation awards. He also served as an Assistant Professor at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology for three years. Dr. Motin holds a Ph.D. from Michigan State University and has over 30 published research articles and several patents to his name.
Chethan Tembad
Engineering Business Manager - Hutchinson
Mr. Tembad has 10 years of experience in automotive thermal systems, specializing in electric vehicle applications. He is currently the Engineering Business Management supervisor at Hutchinson FMS where he leads technical engagements with OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, translating complex thermal requirements into innovative component and module level solutions. He is also the subject matter expert for coolant and refrigerant valve technology and leads the North American valve engineering team. Mr. Tembad holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering with a concentration in Fluid Mechanics from Wayne State University. He also holds a patent for solving tolerance management challenges in multi-port coolant connections.
Dr. Christian Kochanek
Business Development Manager, Automotive and Mobility - Evonik
Dr. Kochanek joined Evonik in 2016 as project manager focusing on polyamide based composite materials and worked recently as Manager Extrusion Technologies within the application technology division. Currently he operates as Business Development Manager for Automotive and Mobility. In this role he is working on innovative applications of long chain polyamides. Dr. Kochanek holds a diploma in mechanical engineering from Technical University Dresden and finished his doctorate in mechanical engineering at RWTH Aachen University in 2016.
Michael Pilarski
NA Business Development Manager, PPA - BASF
Mr. Pilarski has been working with materials for over 35 years in design, application development, and business development roles with a concentration in specialty and high-performance materials. He is currently the North America New Business Development Manager for BASF’s Ultramid® Advanced PPAs where he is responsible for developing growth in the transportation market segment. Mr. Pilarski holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.
Luis Fernando Flores Bustos
Account Manager Automotive - Arkema
Mr. Flores is the Account Manager for Light Vehicle NA with a focus on Specialty Polyamides. Additional responsibilities include business development with automotive cooling lines, fuel lines and quick connectors. Mr. Flores holds a Chemical Engineering degree from Universidad Autonoma de Mexico.
Ji-Hoon Kim
Principal Business Development Leader - Ascend Performance Materials
Mr. Kim leads global automotive marketing for the thermal management segment at Ascend Performance Materials. He has over a decade of experience in automotive powertrain engineering, combined with a strong background in both technical and commercial roles at BASF, SABIC, and EMS.
Vahid Mortazavian
Senior Product Application Development Manager - Ascend Performance Materials
Mr. Mortazavian is Senior Application Development Manager at Ascend Performance Materials. He has over 10 years of experience in the automotive industry focusing on application development as well as predictive modeling of thermoplastic materials.
Murali Chandrasekhar
Director of Engineering - Martinrea International
Mr. Chandrasekhar joined Martinrea International in 2016 and is currently the Director of Engineering, Fluids and Flexible Manufacturing. In this position, he is responsible for the product engineering and advanced product development teams focused on fuel and brake lines, thermal management systems, hydrogen lines and other fluid-related technologies. Here he is focused on advancing product innovation specifically in light weighting and sustainability, as well as integrating AI-driven tools in product and material development. Mr. Chandrasekhar holds a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA.
Dr. Saima Alam
Thermal Management Engineer - Hutchinson
Dr. Alam is a Thermal Management Engineer at Hutchinson Fluid Management Systems working on research and development of integrated refrigerant modules and valve assemblies. She has two years of prior experience in production management for consumer goods and held an internship in the Thermal Controls team at Tesla where she worked on developing refrigerant loop models for system-in-loop applications. Dr. Alam holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Michigan State University. She is also the author of three industry publications.
Manoj Billa
Lead Thermal Management Engineer - Hutchinson
Mr. Billa is a Thermal Management expert with over 10 years of experience in the design and development of MVAC components including AC lines, internal heat exchangers, accumulators, receiver driers and manifolds. At Hutchinson FMS he leads the development of advanced heat pumps and secondary loop systems/components, with a focus on integrated refrigerant modules. Mr. Billa holds a Master of Science in Automobile Engineering from Lawrence Technological University.
Christian Elz
Product Engineering Manager - EQYO (Saint-Gobain)
Mr. Elz began his career in the trainee program in R&D at Maincor and later held the role of Senior Application Engineer at Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics. He then transitioned into Project Manager Passenger Car Powertrain and Key Account Manager Commercial Vehicles roles at ZF Group before joining EQYO. Currently he operates as Program Manager and Product Engineering Manager. Mr. Elz holds engineering degrees in polymer and elastomer technology, and mechanical engineering. He also holds a 2022 patent for thermal management valves.
Augusto Millan
Sales & Application Manager - Moving Magnet Technologies
Mr. Millan is the Sales and Application Manager at Moving Magnet Technologies where he leads business and application development across the North American region. Prior to joining MMT he held multiple roles at Bosch and SEG Automotive, including sales manager, sales & application engineer, and project manager. Mr. Millan graduated from MEMA’s Emerging Leadership Council in 2023 where he served as a member of the Board of Governors. He is also a published author. Mr. Millan has a bachelor’s degree in mechatronics and a master’s in automotive engineering from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education.
