Innoplate, the joint venture between Schaeffler and Symbio for the production of bipolar plates for fuel cells, has officially opened its plant in Haguenau, France. The facility, located near the Franco-German border, has been operational since the first quarter of this year.
The plant, with an initial capacity of four million bipolar plates, is projected to ramp up production to 50 million units per year by 2030. Innoplate was established in 2022 to produce bipolar plates for fuel cells with proton exchange membranes (PEM), serving as a crucial component for regulating hydrogen and air inflow, as well as water vapor and energy outflow, thus enhancing fuel cell efficiency and effectiveness.
Klaus Rosenfeld, CEO of Schaeffler AG, expressed confidence in hydrogen’s role in sustainable mobility, particularly in heavy-duty applications, stating, “At Schaeffler, we are convinced that hydrogen will play a fundamental role in the sustainable mobility of tomorrow, especially in the heavy-duty area.”
The joint venture leverages Schaeffler’s industrialization expertise and OEM experience in steel processing and coating technology, along with Symbio’s proficiency in fuel cell design and manufacturing. Symbio, founded in 2019 by Faurecia and Michelin, expanded into the US in 2022 and welcomed Stellantis as a shareholder in 2023.
Symbio has been actively involved in the European and US markets, supplying hydrogen fuel cells for various applications. The company’s partnership with Stellantis involves providing fuel cell stacks for the Opel Vivaro-e and related models. Stellantis aims to expand its hydrogen offering to larger commercial vehicles, starting in Europe in 2024 and in the US from 2025, as part of its Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan.
In 2021, Symbio secured a deal with Safra, a French bus manufacturer, for the production of 1,500 hydrogen buses. Additionally, Symbio partnered with Gaussin in 2022 to supply hydrogen fuel cells for Gaussin’s logistics vehicles. Symbio’s achievements in hydrogen fuel cell development were recognized by the California Energy Commission, granting the company an award for hydrogen-fueled truck development in the US.
