- JV will produce 4 million fuel cell plates per year.
German automotive supplier Schaeffler AG and France’s Symbio have agreed to form a joint venture (JV) for the production of fuel cell bipolar plates (BPP), a critical component of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, for the global mobility and energy markets.
The joint venture in which both parties have an equal share will be called Innoplate and based in Haguenau, France. The project is expected to become operational by the end of 2022, with actual production beginning in early 2024. The initial capacity annual production capacity is expected to be 4 million BPP. The JV expects to produce 50 million BPP per year by 2030 and employ more than 120 people.
The JV company’s first customer will be Symbio, a hydrogen joint venture between Fauresia SE and Michelin. Symbio has received the first major nomination for its fuel cell system from an unnamed automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Symbio and Schaeffler will be the JV’s exclusive customers.
“Metallic fuel cell bipolar plates are a strategic high added value component of the fuel cell system,” said Symbio chief executive Philippe Rosier. “Innoplate will be instrumental in securing serial production capability underpinning our customers’ programs and the Hydrogen mobility market uptake while accelerating enhanced system performance and an effective step-up in the cost competitiveness of our solutions,” added Rosier.
The partnership between France and Germany will also aid in reinforcing the European hydrogen mobility value chain.