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ELECTRON BEAM WELDING AS A KEY TO THE DEVELOPMENT
OF COMPETITIVE HYDROGEN TECHNOLOGIES
As part of the Referenzfabrik.H2 project for the development of competitive hydrogen technologies, the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU and Steigerwald Strahltechnik (SST) are working together on forward-looking manufacturing solutions for the hydrogen economy.
A central focus of this collaboration is the development of electron beam welding of bipolar plates for electrolyzers and fuel cells. The goal is to realize highly precise, reproducible, and cost-effective welding processes that meet the stringent requirements for tightness, electrical conductivity, and long-term stability.
By using electron beam technology, extremely fine and deeply penetrating weld seams can be produced with minimal heat input. This is a decisive factor for the industrial series production of bipolar plates and makes a significant contribution to the scalability and competitiveness of modern hydrogen systems.
Referenzfabrik.H2
The Referenzfabrik.H2 project aims to establish the foundations for the industrial-scale series production of hydrogen systems. At its core is the development of efficient and cost-effective manufacturing processes that enable the highly scalable production of electrolyzers and fuel cells.
A key focus is placed on innovative manufacturing solutions designed to significantly increase production volumes while simultaneously reducing manufacturing costs. In addition, aspects of sustainable production are systematically analyzed and integrated into process development.