Sempio and Schaeffler form joint venture Innoplate

Recently, Symbio, a joint venture between Michelin and Faurecia, announced that it has reached an agreement with the German Schaeffler Group, a supplier to the automotive industry, to jointly create a joint venture, Innoplate, with each party owning 50% of the shares. %, to produce fuel cell bipolar plates (BPP), which are important components of hydrogen fuel cells, contributing to global sustainable transportation and energy solutions.

Innoplate is expected to be officially established before the end of this year and set up its first factory in Agno, France, creating more than 120 local jobs.The plant plans to achieve large-scale industrial production in early 2024, accelerating the production of next-generation bipolar plates for the entire proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell market, thereby improving its performance, capacity and cost competitiveness for customers.The initial production capacity is planned to be 4 million pieces per year, and the globalannual outputreach about 50 million pieces by 2030.The production base will also follow the highest sustainable development standards and strive to achieve "net-zero emissions operations".

Florent Menegaux, CEO of Michelin Group, said: "The combination of Sempio and Schaeffler will undoubtedly promote the faster development of hydrogen energy mobility and help stabilize Sempio's global status by 2030. A leader in hydrogen fuel cell systems. For Michelin, we firmly believe that pan-European cooperation is an excellent way for European industrial companies to maintain their strategic technological leadership.

Klaus Rosenfeld, CEO of the Schaeffler Group, said: "We believe that hydrogen energy will play a vital role in achieving clean mobility in the future. The establishment of a hydrogen economy and the transition to sustainable energy sources will depend largely on Industrialization of reliable supply chains for new technologies. Innoplate is a prime example. As a multinational company headquartered in Germany, we are also very happy to work with Sempio from France and establish a partnership in this important field .Through the establishment of the joint venture, Schaeffler can cooperate with leading fuel cell suppliers and enter the market quickly.”

Philippe Rosier, CEO of Sempio, said: "Metal fuel cell bipolar plates are a strategic high value-added component of fuel cell systems, and Innoplate will help ensure the ability to support our customers' production development plans and expansion of the hydrogen power market, At the same time, it accelerates the enhancement of system performance and effectively improves the cost competitiveness of our solutions. In addition, this is also a testament to Sempio's commitment to building technology and industry leadership in Europe."

Patrick Koller, CEO of FORVIA Group, which will be merged by Faurecia and HELLA, said: “Our belief in hydrogen fuel cells is unwavering and we have always believed that hydrogen power is at the heart of the future of mobility. Sempio The combination of Schaeffler and Schaeffler is a strong driver for operational excellence, and the complementary expertise of both companies serves the joint venture Innoplate, creating an important pillar for hydrogen mobility.”