Swiss Foundation Buys Sulzer's Hexis SOFC Division, Assuring Survival
Bulletin from "The Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Letter"
Swiss Foundation Buys Sulzer's Hexis SOFC Division, Assuring Survival
More Headlines
- 'Record renewables generation underscores untapped potential of commercial solar' says expert
- Intersolar Europe 2025: Valentin Software with new program versions of PV*SOL premium and GeoT*SOL
- Register Now for CLEANPOWER 2025: Built to Power
- Ecobat Accelerates Battery Recycling with Three Fully Operational Lithium Recycling Plants in 12 Months
- Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Market Size to Reach USD 2.79 Trillion by 2034
WINTERTHUR, SWITZERLAND, December 23 - There is a Santa Claus after all, even for unlucky fuel cell developers:
Just before Christmas, an unidentified Swiss foundation stepped up to the plate and bought Sulzer Corp.'s solid oxide fuel cell division Hexis that had been destined for shut down in early 2006 (H&FCL Oct. 05).
According to reports earlier today by the Swiss news agency Schweizerische Depeschen Agentur (SDA) and the online version of Agence France-Presse AFX News, the unnamed mystery purchaser has agreed to to underwrite the fuel cell division for at least one year. SDA quoted Sulzer spokesman Cordin Camenzind as saying that this guarantees "continuation of fuel cell development in the same location."
Sulzer wouldn't release financial details or the purchase price of the division on which Sulzer has spent Sw. Francs 12-16 million ($9.2-12.2 million) annually, according to SDA. "Undoubtedly money will change hands," Camenzind was quoted as saying. "We've sold Hexis, we've not given it away."
Twelve of the original 53 employees that had been let go about two months ago are now continuing to work on fuel cells. Most of the others had found jobs elsewhere, according to the reports.
(If warranted, a more detailed article will be in the upcoming January 2006 issue of "The Hydrogen &Fuel Cell Letter).
Featured Product
Vecoplan - Planning and implementation of complete processing plants in refuse derived fuel production
In order to reduce the costs involved in the energy-intensive production of cement, many manufacturers are turning to refuse-derived fuels (RDF), considerably reducing the proportion of expensive primary fuels they would normally use. Solid fuels are being increasingly used - these might be used tyres, waste wood or mixtures of plastics, paper, composite materials and textiles. Vecoplan provides operators of cement plants with proven and robust components for conveying the material and separating iron and impurities, efficient receiving stations, storage systems and, of course, efficient shredders for an output in various qualities.
