Press Release: Strategic cooperation between Feintool and SITEC in China

Market development

Strategic cooperation between Feintool and SITEC in China

The two technology companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding. They will collaborate on the metallic bipolar plates production for fuel cells in China.

The market for hydrogen and fuel cell applications in China is developing extremely dynamically and offers a high potential. In order to produce metallic bipolar plates - the core of a fuel cell - economically and on an industrial scale - the forming and joining process needs to meet highest requirements in terms of tightness, precision and repeatability. With the "FEINforming" process developed by Feintool, the group intends to take off not only in Europe but also in China. Together with laser specialist SITEC, the first step in the collaboration will be to set up equipment at Feintool's existing production plant in Taicang, near Shanghai. In a "shop-in-shop" concept, SITEC is contributing machines and employees with expertise in joining. In an integrated process of FEINforming and laser welding, high-precision individual plates are joined to form bipolar plates and then tested for leakage.

Thanks to the partnership, Feintool can supply customers with bipolar plates of the highest quality and competitiveness in a high-volume production. Furthermore, the two technology partners will continuously develop the manufacturing processes.

Marcel Pernici, Feintool President of System Parts Asia, sees only advantages in the collaboration: "Two strong partners are joining their expertise and intend to produce metallic bipolar plates in China in high volumes. Each vehicle powered by fuel cells requires up to 400 bipolar plates, or 800 individual plates. The high demand offers great potential, which we want to exploit."

Dr. Jörg Lässig, Managing Director of SITEC Laser Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. adds, "We bring our many years of experience as a global system supplier of high-tech laser processing systems and automation solutions, as well as series manufacturer of precision parts, to the cooperation."

FEINforming: Progress through precision

The Feintool technology is a key to the future viability of fuel cells. The high-precision processing of the thinnest material thicknesses leads to a reduction in weight and volume and thus to a more compact arrangement of the fuel cells in a stack. Higher power density in the cell stack paves the way for powerful and compact vehicle drive systems. Feintool offers a complete, customer-specific solution for the production of optimized bipolar plates from a single source: presses specialized in bipolar plate production, FEM-optimized tool design, comprehensive engineering services, and prototype, preproduction, and high-volume production.

Laser welding: Maximum efficiency, process reliability and quality

The efficient operation of the laser in industrial production and the technological development of process-safe solutions are part of SITEC's core competencies. The laser works extremely fast, produces excellent weld seams and virtually distortion-free components. SITEC integrates the laser, including high-tech welding optics and intelligent monitoring systems, into automated production systems for the series production of bipolar plates.

About SITEC

SITEC is an internationally valued partner and system

supplier for automated high-tech production systems

and the series production of precision parts and assemblies.

Based on the highest quality and environmental standards,

SITEC offers efficient manufacturing technologies

as well as complete key solutions.

For its global customers in the automotive industry,

medical technology, and alternative energy technology,

SITEC develops production-ready solutions for automated

assembly, laser material processing and electrochemical

metalworking. The company achieves this with around

300 highly qualified employees and optimum teamwork.

SITEC grows with the challenges of its customers and

the market, such as the development of new products

in the field of e-mobility or autonomous storage technologies

based on fuel cells. Fully automated laser processing

systems for laser welding, in particular of copper,

for components in e-drives, battery systems and power

electronics are now part of the portfolio.

In addition, the company has been producing laser-welded

bipolar plates of various designs to customer order

within series production since 2012.

Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Germany, the

company serves Asian markets directly on site via

SITEC Laser Technology (Shanghai) and operates a showroom

in the USA (Pittsburgh).

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About Feintool

Feintool is an internationally acting technology and

market leader in the business area of fineblanking.

This technology is characterized by high-quality-standards

and cost-effectiveness. The company produces fineblanked

goods, formed steel components and punched electro

sheet metal products.

As an innovation driver, Feintool is consistently

expanding the horizons of these technologies and developing

smart solutions to meet customer requirements. Feintool

offers complete production of precise fineblanked

and formed components as well as punched electro sheet

metal products in high volumes for demanding applications

in the automotive, industrial and energy industry

The processes used by Feintool are ideally suited

to implement automobile industry trends. Feintool

is a project and development partner in the field

of lightweight construction/sustainability, module

variations/platforms and alternative drive concepts

such as hybrid and electric drives.

The company, established in 1959 and headquartered

in Lyss, Switzerland, owns production plants and technology

centers in Europe, the United States, China and Japan.

It is crucial to the company to be geographically

close to its customers at all times. Around 2,600

employees and 80 apprentices work globally to develop

new solutions and create key advantages for Feintool

customers.

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Media contacts

Feintool International Holding AG SITEC Industrietechnologie GmbH

Industriering 8 Bornaer Strasse 192

3250 Lyss 09114 Chemnitz

Switzerland Germany

Media spokesperson Media spokesperson

Karin Labhart Sabine Rabenhold

Phone +41 32 387 51 57 Phone +49 371 4708 273

Mobile +41 79 609 22 02 sabine.rabenhold@sitec-technology.de

karin.labhart@feintool.com www.sitec-technology.de

www.feintool.com

The press release can be downloaded from the following link:

Press Release (PDF) https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=iglqBPZuy2w06fz8trV4EbTYc6Ea6lYTgS412iGSm8OaSGCTXzN0I1BrnetF1Hkz-Qm6nqfn6SLptAdRjlQW8DS4mQMZa0EIhviZfpokrpzy9xHtRuEx03MLYaDegKHaAhTbagatyUjCUoLu-q5gKROb7XQUxb872PeLBIgDwjM8miDdu-Fs_X4zaYLkBxLo

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 09, 2021 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)