ANDRITZ to Collaborate with Cell Impact
By
Metal Center News Staff on
Oct 14, 2024
Cell Impact has signed a collaboration agreement with international technology group ANDRITZ to advance large-scale, high-speed production of bipolar flow plates for fuel cells and electrolyzers. The centerpiece of this partnership is ANDRITZ’s development of the world’s fastest and most productive welding machine for this application.
Cell Impact of Sweden produces bipolar flow plates using proprietary high-speed forming technology. To boost its production capacity, the company plans to combine its technology with ANDRITZ’s advanced welding process. As part of the collaboration, ANDRITZ will complete the development of its new Soucell system. This multi-scanner (Galvo-Laser), on-the-fly welding system is capable of welding one bipolar plate per second (1 Hz), matching the throughput of the Cell Impact forming process.
The joint project will start in the first quarter of 2025, with the aim of installing a Soucell machine at Cell Impact’s production plant in Karlskoga by the second half of 2026. With the growing demand for bipolar flow plates, the scope of the collaboration is expected to expand.
“We look forward to contributing to the transition towards sustainable energy together with Cell Impact. This collaboration is an exciting opportunity given Cell Impact’s exceptional capability to produce bipolar flow plates at an unprecedented scale,” said Daniel Wenk, VP business development at ANDRITZ Soutec.