Extrusion International 3-2020

47 Extrusion International 3/2020 duction costs and a lack of infrastruc- ture, hydrogen-powered drive and production technologies are already being successfully implemented in other areas. This technology current- ly appears to be of particular inter- est for heavy goods transport, local public transport, shipbuilding, and the aircraft industry. In those sectors, the primary demand is for safe, light- weight and leak-proof tank systems. It is the inner skin of the tank. It ab- sorbs the gas, surrounding the con- tents and sealing them off from the outside. The liner is subjected to high mechanical stresses and temperature ranges from -60 °C to +120 °C. Now, for the first time, the method devel- oped by Kautex in cooperation with a plastics manufacturer enables hy- drogen liners in sizes with industrial applications to be produced by blow molding. “The liner size we have now achieved is just the start. We are confident that, in future, we will also be able to use this method to produce con- siderably larger liners for hydrogen pressure vessels”, said Abdellah El Bouchfrati. The technology developed by Kautex Maschinenbau for producing large- volume liners for hydrogen contain- ers means that a cost-effective solu- tion for transport and infrastructure requirements is now within reach. Experts have long considered sole reliance on battery technologies to provide a solution to tomorrow’s mobility problems will not achieve the long-term goal of mobility that is as carbon-neutral as possible. While fuel cell technology in the pas- senger car sector does not yet appear to be economically viable, due to pro- CPVs are not only significantly lighter than steel tanks, but also completely resistant to corrosion. Hydrogen is also a first-class energy storage medium, especially if it has been produced using renewable en- ergies. Here, too, tank systems that can withstand the associated pres- sure, and still store the extremely light gas safely, are needed. Alongside high-tech machines for packaging and automotive products, the company also develops systems for producing thermoplastic pres- sure vessels. Kautex Maschinenbau’s portfolio ranges from the develop- ment and production of prototypes and small series to the construction of complete production systems for manufacturing composite pressure vessels. Working together with its customers and materials manufac- turers, Kautex continues to advance developments in CPV technology. The hydrogen liner that has just been unveiled is the latest fruit of this co- operation. Kautex Maschinenbau GmbH Kautexstr. 54, 53229 Bonn, Germany www.kautex-group.com Quality inspection in the Composite Center Kautex KBS241 extrusion blow molding machine