It is with sadness that we report the death of Pier Giuseppe Bernini, general manager for Solith, the lithium subsidiary of Italian battery machine manufacturer Sovema. Pier was a talented and highly respected engineer. as well as a warm generous friend to many — to which we, at Batteries International, counted ourselves one.

Professionally, Pier will be remembered as a leading innovator for the manufacture of lithium ion battery production systems where his encyclopaedic knowledge of everything from punching electrodes, pouch forming and cell formulation made him a huge asset to Sovema, the Italian machine maker.

Pier joined Sovema in May 2011 before helping set up Solith in September 2015.

His most recent patent “Machine and process for obtaining cells for electric storage batteries and cell for electric storage battery” was awarded in May 2016.

The Sovema Group expressed its sadness over his passing saying: “Pier was an important player of its team of experts, which he helped create and constantly inspired. The group is close to Pier’s family and to the Solith team and will honour his legacy.”

Tributes have also come in from friends and colleagues alike. Bob Galyen, chief technology officer at CATL told BESB: “Pier was full of life!  We shared many work experiences from Italy to China, and the world between.  He beamed with life, always speaking of his love of family and steadfast determination in his career.  Anyone who was close to Pier knew what a kind man he was.  

“We spent many hours discussing equipment design and philosophy in manufacturing, always trying to create perfection for his customers.”

Pier died suddenly from a heart attack on April 29 while cycling. He was a month short of his 50^th birthday. He leaves behind his wife Giulia, who he married in 2008, and young son Filippo who he adored.

The world is a sadder place without him.