Page 19 - ITAtube Journal 3 2024

Press releases
Gräbener Maschinentechnik GmbH & Co.
How does the way to standardized
production of fuel cell and electro-
lyzer components look like?
Graebener and leading branch experts
present a roadmap for the future of the
hydrogen market
The way to establishing a standardized pro-
duction process for metallic bipolar plates
for fuel cells and electrolyzers is anything
but predefined. The challenges differ signifi-
cantly depending on the specific application.
Together with experts from industry and
research, Graebener presents a comprehen-
sive white paper that organizes the com-
plexity of the subject and provides specific
recommendations for the various process
steps.
Eight consecutive sub-steps
The production of metallic bipolar plates
for fuel cells and electrolyzers is complex. In
many cases, the corresponding technologies
are not yet fully developed. “The process
chain for manufacturing bipolar plates
Bipolar plate
essentially comprises eight consecutive
steps: Material selection, forming, cutting,
welding, straightening, leak testing, coating
and seal application. Each step is at a differ-
ent stage of development and brings its own
challenges for the process chain. Another
difficulty is that the individual steps are
often treated separately from one another.
“There are no binding cross-process stand-
ards,” states Fabian Kapp, Managing Director
of Gräbener Maschinentechnik GmbH & Co.
KG and Board Member at VDMA Fuel Cell
Working Group, about the challenges associ-
ated with the production of metallic bipolar
plates. “In the white paper, for the first time
we are presenting public answers from the
industry regarding the questions that drive
the market and potential customers when
planning production projects. Based on this,
with the core of the publication, the process
navigator, we provide a condensed orien-
Bipolar plates Prototyping
tation and make a concrete recommenda-
tion on what needs to be considered in the
Anything but trivial: The manufacturing complexity of metal-
lic bipolar plates for fuel cells and electrolyzers summarized
respective process step.”
in a white paperITAtube Journal December 2024 19