BPP - metallic

thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering's product portfolio covers the entire spectrum of manual, semi-automated and fully automated BPP production lines.

The automated BPP production lines are generally designed for 35,000 - 50,000 stacks per year and are individually scalable according to your requirements. At a production rate of around one second per BPP, this corresponds to an output of up to 20 million bipolar plates per year. To achieve these speeds, we link the production systems with transport systems for fully automated production.

In addition to the planning and construction of production systems, we are also happy to support you with our network of suppliers and manufacturers in the selection of suitable sealing and coating materials and corresponding processing technologies.

The production of metallic bipolar plates for fuel cells and electrolysers is a complex process that we have solved for you. Each production step requires special know-how on the way to the finished product.

thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering has been cooperating with Andritz Soutec and Schuler for several years in order to be able to offer you the full range of production systems required to map the entire value chain from a single source.

Produce up to 20 million BPP per year on our line!

The individual monopolar panels are pressed using an innovative process from Schuler and then two individual monopolar panels are welded together using the patented welding process from Andritz Soutec. The main challenges here are the very small material thicknesses (75 μm) and the high tightness requirements for the welded joint in order to prevent cooling water from escaping during subsequent operation. We achieve the highest welding quality thanks to a unique clamping technique that adapts to the component tolerances.

After completion of the welding process, as part of a tightly meshed quality management system, the half-piece is visually inspected and then checked for leaks by thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering in a leak test.

To counteract damage to the bipolar plates caused by hydrogen-induced embrittlement, the components are given an additional graphitic or metallic coating. With our network of suppliers, industry and research partners, we are happy to provide advice and support in the selection process.

As a rule, seals are then applied to the BPPs. Here, compliance with tight tolerances is crucial for the quality of stacks, which can be checked using optical 2D/3D measuring systems, for example. Optionally, a leak test is possible before the finished BPPs are transferred for stacking. These quality gates can be particularly useful in the ramp-up phase for new components in order to reduce defect costs due to subsequent NOK detection.

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BPP - metallic

Scalable metallic BPP production

Production line

Cooperation with Andritz Soutec and Schuler

Production process steps