DELO and DATRON develop new system solution
Published by Willow Munz,
Editorial Assistant
Global Hydrogen Review,
DELO and DATRON have developed a system solution that enables the sealing of fuel cells to be carried out with a high degree of automation and precision. The combination of DELO’s fast curing liquid gasket and UV curing technology with DATRON’s high speed dispensing system significantly shortens cycle times and increases process reliability – both during manufacturing and in the subsequent operation of fuel cells.
At the core of the solution is DELO?PHOTOBOND?SL, a liquid gasket material specifically developed for fuel cell applications. It is applied in liquid form and cured by light within just a few seconds. In addition to its extremely short curing time, it offers high resistance to typical reference media such as sulfuric acid and deionised water – a key factor for the reliability and service life of modern fuel cells.
Precise application is ensured by the DATRON?evo?600, which achieves exceptionally high dispensing speeds of up to 50?m/min. The volumetric system guarantees a constant bead cross section, even at start and stop points. This makes it possible to produce hundreds of cells with consistently high quality that can then be reliably combined into a stack. The liquid application allows maximum design flexibility in gasket geometry and is ideally suited for automated production. Both the integrated confocal sensor, which measures the gasket height immediately after dispensing, and the adhesive’s fluorescence enable fast inline quality control.
Stack sealing as a key factor in fuel cell industrialisation
“Sealing the individual fuel cells is often an underestimated but decisive step in the entire stack manufacturing process. Only if absolute tightness is achieved can the system operate reliably over the long term,” emphasised Julian?Hopf, Product?Manager?Energy?Storage?and?Conversion at DELO. “With the upcoming industrialisation of fuel cell production, speed is equally essential – and this new system solution makes a major contribution to achieving it.”
The new manufacturing process developed by DELO and DATRON, by contrast, represents a highly scalable and future proof alternative – ideal for the transition from small scale to mass production. Up to now, sealing has typically relied on time consuming, complex, and energy intensive processes.
The solution will be presented at the Hydrogen Technology World Expo in Hamburg (October?21–23,?2025; DELO: Hall?B4,?Booth?4H1; DATRON: Hall?B7,?Booth?7A75). With over?1000 exhibitors and?20 000?attendees, the event is one of the world’s leading exhibitions for hydrogen and fuel cell technology.
Read the article online at: https://www.globalhydrogenreview.com/hydrogen/20102025/delo-and-datron-develop-new-system-solution/
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