More efficient green fuel cells from new production project

Semcon is currently deepening its collaboration with fuel cell manufacturer PowerCell. Both through a new framework agreement and by developing a new robotic cell with the use of vision technology that will streamline the production of fuel cells for the vehicles of the future.

The fuel cells use hydrogen to produce electricity and heat, with emissions of only water. Semcon has been engaged to develop and deploy an entirely new robotic cell for testing new fuel cell production technology with the aim of making the fuel cells more efficient.

“This new robotic cell will fully automate part of the production flow, which requires high precision. We will be using advanced vision technology to ensure that the assembly has the accuracy required and to assure the quality of the fuel cell after the assembly process”, says Thomas Lydhig, technical project manager at Semcon.

Semcon is part of a comprehensive project that embraces the entire production process for mass-producing fuel cells and which has developed the test concept for the new robotic cell. In the project, Semcon is responsible for bringing expertise in production development, robotics programming, machine design, and vision technology, among other things. The robotic cell will also have full traceability through QR codes and will be operational in December.

“PowerCell and Semcon have had a long-standing and well-functioning collaboration, which we are pleased to extend through a more comprehensive framework agreement”, says Per Wassén, CEO at PowerCell Sweden AB.

The new framework agreement further strengthens the long-term and established partnership. Among other things, the agreement includes production development, product development, product information, and digitisation services.