German fuel cell site to close

BASF is realigning its business for the fuel cell market. In the future the production of high-temperature membrane electrode assemblies.

(MEAs) will be concentrated in Somerset, New Jersey. Operational activities at the BASF Fuel Cell site in Frankfurt, Germany, will  cease as of 31 December 2009. BASF plans to close the Frankfurt site in the course of 2010.

At the Somerset site, BASF Fuel Cell produces both high-temperature MEAs and pre-products such as electrodes. Somerset is the only site that covers the entire production process for MEAs.

"In addition to integrated production, the Somerset site offers us the advantage of being closer to our customers and to key future markets, such as fuel cells for residential combined heat and power systems", said Stefano Pigozzi, head of BASF's Inorganics division to which BASF Fuel Cell belongs. "We are strengthening our overall competitiveness by concentrating the competencies of the two sites."