Inauguration of the new production, development and administration building for fuel cell stacks in Burnaby, Canada

On June 29, 2022, cellcentric ceremonially opened its new facility in Burnaby, Canada. This site integrates research, development, and production of fuel cell stacks, featuring tripled capacity and state-of-the-art facilities.

Inauguration of cellcentric's New Fuel Cell Production Facility in Burnaby, Canada – cellcentric

On Wednesday, June 29, 2022, cellcentric celebrated the move of cellcentric Fuel Cell Canada Inc. to a new location in Burnaby, near Vancouver, Canada, with a grand opening. The state-of-the-art facility will be the new home of the Canadian subsidiary’s Research & Development, Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management, Finance, Human Resources and IT functions. Two floors and a total area of approximately 56,727 square feet will house seven test stands, as well as a manual and an automated production line. The building is located in the newly constructed Riverbend Industrial Park and provides cellcentric with the space it needs to expand development and production at the Canadian site.

The move in June 2022 coincided with the ramp up of production tests at the new location. In the lead up to this milestone, machines and production facilities were calibrated and prepared for commissioning in the preceding six months.

cellcentric CEO Dr Matthias Jurytko, COO Lars Johansson, CCO Prof. Dr Christian Mohrdieck and CEO cellcentric Fuel Cell Canada Inc. Andrea Engelen, as well as employees, project partners and political representatives, including Mike Hurley (Mayor Burnaby), Honorable Jonathan Wilkinson (Minister of Natural Resources) and Honorable Bruce Ralston (Minister of Energy of British Columbia) attended the opening ceremony.

Canada: currently cellcentric’s production site for fuel cell stacks

The cellcentric site in Canada is responsible for the development and production of fuel cell stacks and thus therefore plays an important role in fuel cell production. The fuel cell stack is the heart of a fuel cell unit. Several fuel cells are arranged in a row to form a stack of cells. By connecting the individual cells in series, the power output of the stack can be varied and adjusted according to the requirements. The finished fuel cell stacks are then integrated into other system components in Germany, at cellcentric’s headquarter location in Kirchheim / Teck-Nabern (Stuttgart region), and assembled into the finished fuel cell units.

The move to the new building comes in anticipation of the expansion of production capacity needed for the ramp-up of cellcentric’s fuel cell series production in Germany. The new production facilities in Burnaby have three times the capacity and twice the space compared to the previous production facility. This expansion is a clear commitment for fuel cell technology. For the implementation of the new site, the collaboration with Invest Vancouver was particularly valuable for cellcentric to create the importance and momentum for fuel cell technology, support the industry and accelerate our development efforts. ​Invest Vancouver is the Metro Vancouver region’s economic development leadership service dedicated to promoting and advancing the region’s prosperity.

Vancouver: fuel cell cluster important decision criterion for site selection

Greater Vancouver, the region where Burnaby is located, is considered as the “Silicon Valley” of fuel cell technology, where various well-known companies have been located for more than three decades and have acquired special know-how and expertise in the field of fuel cell technology. Universities such as the University of British Colombia (UBC) and Simon Fraser University (SFU) support development activities with their own research centers. cellcentric Fuel Cell Canada Inc. under its former incorporation, has also been based in Burnaby for several decades and has made a significant contribution to the research activities and cluster formation. Access to and continued close exchange with the local expert network is therefore of valuable importance and offered a deciding factor for the choice of location.

Location Canada is currently cellcentric’s production site for fuel cell stacks

Ceremonial opening with political representatives on June 29

New production facility has three times the capacity and twice the space compared to the previous site

The National Hydrogen Council meets at cellcentric in Nabern

From May 24 to 25, 2022, cellcentric hosts the National Hydrogen Council meeting in Nabern. The session advances the National Hydrogen Strategy and emphasizes the importance of collaborations to establish a sustainable hydrogen infrastructure.

National Hydrogen Council Meets at cellcentric in Nabern – cellcentric

cellcentric has set itself the goal of becoming a leading global manufacturer of fuel cells and thus making a decisive contribution to climate-neutral and sustainable transportation by the year 2050. In doing so, cellcentric focuses on the development, production and marketing of fuel cell systems for use in heavy-duty commercial vehicles as well as for other applications with comparable requirements.

In this context, cellcentric welcomes the work of the NWR, which is of high importance for the development of the hydrogen ecosystem. The bundling and coordination of all forces is a prerequisite for jointly advancing the topic of hydrogen at the required speed. For cellcentric, this is an important basis to ensure the successful use of its own products in the various applications.

Kichheim/Teck-Nabern – cellcentric is pleased to welcome the National Hydrogen Council at its company site in Nabern from 24.05.22 to 25.05.22 and to host its council meeting.

cellcentric presents latest generation of its fuel-cell technology

At IAA Transportation 2022, cellcentric introduces its most advanced fuel cell system generation for commercial vehicles. The new BZA150 features 150 kW net output, enhanced durability, and is designed specifically for emission-free long-haul transport.

cellcentric Unveils Latest Fuel Cell Generation at IAA Transportation 2022 – cellcentric

At the IAA Transportation 2022, cellcentric, the 50:50 fuel-cell joint venture of Daimler Truck AG and the Volvo Group, will present its latest innovations on the way to fuel-cell series production. The company will debut its new generation fuel-cell system, with 150 kW net power and an improved design.

The manufacturer of fuel-cell systems, which are primarily used in heavy-duty commercial vehicles to enable emission-free long-distance transport, is thus underlining its industrialization expertise. In hall 24, booth C23 cellcentric presents two fuel-cell systems to the specialized public. Significant improvements in all relevant areas are provided by the new generation BZA150, which is intended for series production. It has a net power of 150 kW, the voltage range is between 650-850 VDC, the service life is approximately 25,000 operating hours, and the weight is around 230 kg.

“Our new development impressively demonstrates the potential of fuel cell technology,” said Dr. Matthias Jurytko, CEO at cellcentric GmbH & Co. KG. “After all, within just one generation, we have been able to increase net power by 36 percent while reducing weight by eight percent. Even more decisive, however, is the improved service life, which is now equivalent to that of a conventional diesel unit in long-distance use.” In the future, two of the newly developed units with a total net output of 300 kW will be used in long-distance trucks (twin system). They will be installed in place of the conventional powertrain.

Also on display at the IAA is the BZA100+ fuel-cell power unit. It has a net power of 110 kW, a voltage range of 600-750 VDC and a lifetime of 3,000 hours with a weight of 250 kg.

Special requirements for energy-intensive use provided

cellcentric not only adapts existing fuel cell technology. For crucial technology components, the company is developing a completely new generation of fuel-cell systems that meet the complex and special requirements of commercial vehicles in the heavy long-distance and heavy-duty sector. cellcentric’s fuel-cell systems enable high loading volumes and payloads as well as the required long-distance capability and flexibility. They keep trucks moving when there is no time to recharge – perfect for long distances and heavy loads and in parts of the world where charging options are limited.

Presentation of the new fuel cell system generation with 150 kW net power output Drastically improved service life and optimized design Specially developed for commercial vehicles with energy-intensive use

Are you as excited about hydrogen and fuel cell technology as we are? Do you want to learn more about our work at cellcentric? We are here to help.

cellcentric presents latest generation of its fuel-cell technology

Special requirements for energy-intensive use provided

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Inauguration of the new production, development and administration building for fuel cell stacks in Burnaby, Canada

The National Hydrogen Council meets at cellcentric in Nabern