Symbio and Schaeffler join forces

Symbio, a Michelin and Faurecia hydrogen company, and Schaeffler have joined forces to establish Innoplate, their global Joint Venture (JV). Holding equal stakes in the JV, both the companies plan to produce fuel-cell Bi-Polar Plates (BPP), a strategic fuel-cell component through this collaboration. The first plant of the JV will be located in Haguenau, France and will target the production of 50 million bipolar plates annually for the global market with an initial capacity of four million BPP per year. It will employ more than 120 people by 2030. Expected to be established by the end of 2022 subject to customary conditions precedent such as applicable merger control clearances, the JV while accelerating the production of BPP for the entire Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell market, will enhance performance, capacity, and cost competitiveness for its customers. The production is planned to get started by early 2024. Symbio has received a first major nomination for their fuel cell system from a leading automotive OEM and plans to use the JV to supply the BPP for this program.