The new fuel cell is expected to be ready for launch in December 2015.

French company Symbio FCell manufactures fuel cell powertrains and range extenders for cars and commercial vehicles. The producer has chosen the Ceramic MaxPhase coating from Impact Coatings for its new fuel cell stack. The new fuel cell is expected to be ready for launch in December 2015.

Ceramic MaxPhase enhances performance and lifetime of metal bipolar plates in fuel cells. The PVD (physical vapor deposition) coating is proven state-of-the-art for both proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) and direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC). Offering a unique combination of low contact resistance, high corrosion resistance, and low cost, it exceeds both performance and cost reduction targets set up by the US Department of Energy.

Symbio FCell products are used both as range extenders for battery powered electric vehicles, and as the main source of power for fuel cell electrical vehicles. Typical users today are commercial fleets that depart from and return to the same location, where a hydrogen gas fuel station is placed. One user of Symbio FCells technology is La Poste in France, targeting zero-emission and quiet city operation.

Industry expects a tipping point for automotive fuel cell applications 2015-2017, both for private cars and small trucks. Impact Coatings supports Symbio FCell in the development of fuel cell technology for its 5 kW Range Extender and Full Power FC, including 80-300 kW fuel cells for trucks and heavy-duty vehicles. The new fuel cell stack, which includes the Ceramic MaxPhase coating, is planned to be ready in December 2015. Initially Impact Coatings will supply Ceramic MaxPhase as a coating service to Symbio FCell.

The companies are since 2014 partners in the COBRA fuel cell development project, funded by the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JT), under EU's Seventh Framework Programme for Research (FP7). Other COBRA project partners are: Borit NV, CEA, CIDETEC, and INSA Lyon.

For more information, please contact: Henrik Ljungcrantz (Managing Director, Impact Coatings MaxPhase division), Phone +46-13-35 99 51, E-mail: henrik.ljungcrantz@impactcoatings.se.

About Impact Coatings
Impact Coating AB develops and commercializes innovative technology for PVD surface treatment. PVD is a method to vacuum-coat thin films of metals or ceramics.

The companys main products are the deposition systems InlineCoater, PlastiCoater and ReelCoater, targeting lean-organized component manufacturing involving PVD. The systems are used for surface treatments in a broad spectrum of applications, including the opportunities to replace chromium plating for plastics and gold plating for electrical contacts. In addition, the company has developed a complete technology portfolio for surface treatment of bipolar plates for fuel cells. Target customers are primarily component manufacturers within the electronics and automotive industries.

The company was founded in 1997. Following a period of development and establishing products and services, the company is now expanding globally. Impact Coatings share is traded at Nasdaq OMX Stockholm First North since 2004.