Category: News

As a leading supplier of hydrogen storage solutions, NPROXX supported the BMW Group in developing the hydrogen fuel cell system for the BMW iX5 Hydrogen in different stages, with the clear goal of delivering a hydrogen vessel for the onboard hydrogen storage system.

The BMW iX5 Hydrogen features two vessels that store the hydrogen to power the Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV). NPROXX is responsible for delivering one of these vessels, which is fitted in the middle tunnel of the car and holds 4kg of hydrogen. The other vessel with 2kg of hydrogen is located below the rear seats of the vehicle. Together, these two vessels can therefore store 6kg of hydrogen, making it one of the largest hydrogen storage capacities for a passenger car.

The NPROXX solution is one of the first 700 bar vessels to meet the new R134 standard for FCEVs, which came into effect last year. “It also had to meet  additional requirements of the BMW Group and undergo an extensive testing program,” explains Frank Otremba, Manager H2 System Development for NPROXX. “One of the main challenges was making the vessel’s polymer liner, as the BMW Group required a specific type of polyamide instead of the usual HDPE. We therefore had to adapt our manufacturing method to overcome issues and ensure the vessel’s durability.”

Another crucial aspect was the vessel’s fire protection system. All vessels are equipped with thermal pressure safety release devices to ensure safety in case of a fire incident. But the BMW Group additionally required an improved fire resistance of the vessel itself. NPROXX developed a special coating solution for the vessel to meet this requirement and further improve hydrogen vessel safety.

As always, overcoming these challenges has proved really useful and interesting for NPROXX. Otremba: “We can use this new knowledge in our other development projects, and of course offer this new product and fire coating to other customers as well, for example in trucks, buses and trains. And that’s a huge advantage for us.”

The development of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen highlights some of the advantages of FCEVs over battery electric vehicles (BEVs). FCEVs can offer a higher range and shorter refuelling times compared to BEVs. The BMW iX5 Hydrogen takes about 4 minutes to refuel and provides a range in excess of 500 kilometres.

“We are of course aiming for larger vessels for bigger vehicles, too” says Philipp Breuer, Sales Manager for NPROXX. “As well as trucks, we also have a lot of train and bus customers, and complete fuel tank delivery systems for these really large vehicles are also in our scope.” A similar vessel for heavy duty trucks could even have a diameter of 700-750 millimetres, and so store significantly more hydrogen, necessary for long-haul heavy duty transport.

NPROXX also sees a lot of potential in the hydrogen passenger car market, especially for larger and more expensive vehicles. The company believes that passenger cars can take advantage of the expanding refuelling infrastructure for larger vehicles, such as buses and trains. The development of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen demonstrates that the technology is ready, and the next step is to make it more affordable and scalable.

Overall, the partnership between NPROXX and the BMW Group to develop the hydrogen tank system for the BMW iX5 Hydrogen showcases the valuable contribution of their collaboration – highlighting the potential of hydrogen as a clean and efficient alternative to traditional fuel sources in the automotive industry.

To learn more about hydrogen transport, read our article on the global advancement of hydrogen infrastructure: refuelling stations. And to find out more about NPROXX’s work in general, read about our capabilities or contact us directly for more information.

As NPROXX sees demand for its innovative hydrogen storage solutions increase, it must grow to fulfil newly promised manufacturing capacities. We are currently hiring for a variety of positions to support making clean, sustainable energy accessible and affordable for all.

NPROXX is a leading provider of hydrogen storage solutions. We are on a mission to accelerate the adoption of hydrogen as a clean and sustainable energy source. We do this by providing innovative and cost-effective hydrogen storage solutions to our customers.

Achieving the aims

Our mission is ambitious, and we know that we can only achieve it by growing our team and expanding our capabilities. We are currently hiring for a variety of technical positions, including:

• Production Engineer: This position will be responsible for contributing to the day-to-day operations of our production facility, requiring someone with strong scientific knowledge and technical skills.
• Maintenance Engineer: This role will be responsible for repairing mechanical faults on production equipment, and requires established knowledge of mechanics and other specialist manufacturing disciplines.
• Project Engineers: This role will be responsible for delivering equipment specifications to plan, and requires a strong understanding of project management principles and be able to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Development Process Engineer: This position will be responsible for process development and optimisation, requiring someone with strong analysis skills and attention to detail in order to support the high quality of our work.

We are also looking for candidates for a variety of other positions, including:

• Marketing and Communications Officer: This position will be responsible for developing and executing our evolving marketing and communications strategies, requiring strong, multi-lingual communication skills, with previous experience in PR and marketing preferred.
• Project Managers: This position will be responsible for keeping the balance between all aspects of a project, requiring strong organisational skills, with previous experience in the hydrogen storage industry preferred.
• Cost Controller: This role will be responsible for supporting supply chain and process management, requiring accounting experience and strong analytical, administrative skills.
• Key Account Manager: This role will be responsible for helping the business reach its sales targets, and requires strategic thinking, good communication skills and previous experience of working directly with customers.

“We are a rapidly growing company with a bright future,” adds Peter Hoedemakers, HR Business consultant for NPROXX. “We offer competitive salaries and benefits, as well as the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology. If you are interested in a career in the sustainable energy industry, we encourage you to apply for one of our open positions, or send us your CV directly.”

A changing business structure

With interest in hydrogen on the rise globally, NPROXX must focus on catering to all markets by becoming increasingly international. “Our business structure is changing rapidly as we grow and expand,” explains Hoedemakers. “For that reason, we are exploring all options from a recruitment perspective – including the opportunity to expand our talent pool. There are a lot of untapped skills further afield, and as we enter more joint venture projects worldwide, we are considering hiring from new markets, such as the United States, India and Turkey.”

These changes are exciting, but they also pose some challenges. “As ever, we need to find the right people to lead our growth and expansion,” he continues. “We don’t consider international recruitment lightly, and it is no small feat logistically. We know we need to make sure that our business processes are scalable and efficient. Ultimately, our biggest priority is getting the right people for the job through our doors, in order to help us revolutionise the face of the energy industry.”

NPROXX continues to demonstrate that it can overcome challenges in order to offer the world the energy solution it needs. We have a strong team, a clear vision and a commitment to innovation, and are well-positioned to play a major role in the future of hydrogen. To learn more about NPROXX’s open positions, please see our current vacancies.

The hydrogen economy is on the rise, and manufacturers like NPROXX are well-positioned to benefit from overall market growth. As hydrogen infrastructure continues to improve, there will be an increase in demand for hydrogen-powered vehicles and fuel storage.

NPROXX, a leading manufacturer of hydrogen storage systems, produces vessels for a variety of applications, including transportation, stationary power and industrial activity. NPROXX is committed to the development of a clean and sustainable energy future, a big part of which is supporting the implementation of better hydrogen energy infrastructure.

“In 2023, hydrogen mobility is becoming a reality,” says Johannes Lorenz, Director of Marketing and Sales at NPROXX. “Hydrogen being a clean energy source that produces zero emissions means that – in a time where we are struggling with both energy and climate crises – investing in H₂ technology is more appealing than ever. With European industry pioneers like H2Mobility now gaining more support, refuelling stations are becoming increasingly frequent, thus opening up opportunities for those who are using hydrogen-powered applications.”

The increasing investment in refuelling stations is a great development for NPROXX, as it supports the hydrogen infrastructure, making H₂-powered transport more accessible and affordable. “As more hydrogen stations are built, it will be easier for businesses and consumers to use hydrogen-powered vehicles,” continues Lorenz. “This will create more opportunities for manufacturers like us and help to accelerate the growth of the hydrogen economy. NPROXX are well-positioned to support this growth, as we are naturally seeing increased demand for our energy storage technology too.”

In addition to the increasing demand for hydrogen-powered products, the improving hydrogen infrastructure will also benefit NPROXX by reducing the cost of hydrogen production. “As more people use hydrogen on a daily basis, more will be produced, and thus the cost of production will decrease,” Lorenz explains. “This will make hydrogen more competitive with other energy sources, such as gasoline and diesel. As the hydrogen economy continues to grow and become more accessible, our team of experts is prepared to lead the way as supplier of hydrogen storage systems.”

Overall, the improvement in hydrogen infrastructure is positive because it contributes to a more sustainable transport sector, while offering economic and energy security stability. This is great news for manufacturers like NPROXX, as well as for the environment and consumers.

To find out more about NPROXX’s work, read about our capabilities or contact us directly for more information.

NPROXX is currently in the process of moving its manufacturing activities to a new site in Alsdorf, Germany. The new site is designed for further expansion, which will allow NPROXX to increase its production capacity expeditiously.

The move to the new site is part of NPROXX’s growth strategy. “NPROXX is shifting from being a start-up business, to a development-centric organisation with strong production power,” says Peter Hoedemakers, HR Business consultant for NPROXX. “For this reason, on top of the rising interest in clean energy alternatives, we are expecting to see increased demand for our hydrogen storage solutions in the coming years. The new site will allow us to meet that demand, but we also need more engineers, project managers and sales representatives to support our growth.”

Growing for good

The move to Alsdorf is a major undertaking for NPROXX. The company is currently in the process of moving its equipment and machinery to the new site – the move is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2023.

The new site, located in a large industrial park, is not far from NPROXX’s existing manufacturing facilities in Jülich. “Staying in the region is greatly beneficial for us, as it means our existing team are still within reach of the site,” comments Alina Vollman, NPROXX’s Human Resources Officer in Germany. “Our colleagues can still easily travel to work, and for those who are a bit further away, we are looking into potential commute support schemes. Also, the park is close to various transportation networks, keeping NPROXX well-connected and making it easy for us to ship our products to customers around the world.”

The new site is also larger than the current site in Jülich. “The new manufacturing space we are moving to is four times the size of our current facilities, with additional room to expand into,” says Hoedemakers. “This will allow NPROXX to increase its production capacity vastly, giving us the opportunity to meet the growing global demand for our products.”

Hiring for key roles

In addition to the move, NPROXX is hiring for a number of key roles. “Across both sites and all business functions, NPROXX is looking to fill roles to support our future growth,” says Jessica van Herten, NPROXX’s Human Resources Officer in the Netherlands. “The Alsdorf team will need many more engineers, technicians and manufacturers to operate the expanded production capacities. Meanwhile in Heerlen (NL), we are looking for project managers and sales representatives to help deliver our new, larger projects, as well as work on further customer acquisition and retention.”

Throughout the wide variety of open roles, NPROXX’s current vacancies include:

• Engineers & Manufacturers: NPROXX is looking for technical professionals to design, develop and produce its hydrogen storage solutions.
• Project Managers: NPROXX is looking for project managers to oversee the construction and commissioning of its new manufacturing site.
• Sales Representatives: NPROXX is looking for representatives to sell its hydrogen storage solutions to customers around the world.

Overall, the move to the new manufacturing site is a positive development for NPROXX. “We are well-positioned for expansion in the coming years, and the new site will allow us to meet the growing demand for hydrogen technology,” concludes Hoedemakers. “Recruitment will be a big challenge for us in the coming years, but we are considering new approaches in order to fulfil our recruitment needs. Naturally, NPROXX will continue to invest in its HR department in order to attract and retain the best talent, but we have a strong team and look forward to building on our existing strengths.”

To learn more about NPROXX’s open positions, please see our current vacancies or contact us with your CV directly.

 

We are happy to announce that from 1 July 2023 Johannes Lorenz will succeed Michael Himmen as Head of Marketing and Sales. In this position, he will also join the Management Board and report to Rainer vor dem Esche.

We congratulate Johannes Lorenz and wish him every success in his new position!

As global demand for advanced hydrogen storage solutions is growing rapidly, NPROXX prepares to expand its manufacturing base and move to a new dedicated operating site in Alsdorf, Germany.

Over the last two years, NPROXX has seen a huge growth in interest from new OEMs, as well as strongly rising demand for advanced hydrogen storage systems from established customers. “NPROXX is rapidly adapting the way it operates to meet surging demand,” explains Rainer vor dem Esche, General Manager of NPROXX. “We are seeing our average order size grow significantly, and our commercial strategy has shifted to focus on securing mutually beneficial long-term relationships with major players in the hydrogen field.”

“Market demand for our innovative hydrogen storage technology means that NPROXX now requires further resources to deliver its commitments – that means more staff, more equipment and, vitally, more space,” continues vor dem Esche. “As well as developing our commercial approach, we are currently relocating our operations to a much larger site in Alsdorf, Germany. It is not far from our existing plant in Jülich, and will give us significantly more space than we have now – with room to expand again in future.”

This relocation will be the key to unlock a further chapter in NPROXX’s impressive growth story. “We have already had some logistics management challenges,” vor dem Esche admits. “But the new location is very accessible for both our clients and our team. The extended capacity this move will give us unlocks a huge potential opportunity for further growth. We have already moved some office functions to the new site, and plan to have the last of our manufacturing capabilities transferred over and operational by the end of Q2.”

To find out more about NPROXX’s capacity for hydrogen storage solutions, read about our technical capabilities or contact us directly about our exciting hydrogen innovations.

The European Environment Agency’s Regulation (EC) No. 79/2009, a standard which covers type-approval of hydrogen-powered motor vehicles and has been historically enforced by the European Parliament, is being phased out in an effort to keep the industry up-to-date and improve the reliability of hydrogen vehicles.

Many manufacturers, including NPROXX, now face significant challenges to re-certify their applications for automotive hydrogen storage. The decision means that all existing H₂ vehicle technology can only have their existing certifications extended, with any further certifications to be obtained using the new, stricter methods. The former certification will be replaced by the existing R134, a regulation of the UN’s Economic Commission for Europe. Alongside the phase out of the (EC) 79, the R134 is also set to undergo an update to ensure manufacturers are testing applications thoroughly and prioritising safety above all else.

As the (EC) 79 can no longer be used for certification in Europe, NPROXX are moving forward with making the necessary modifications to the relevant pressure vessels ahead of re-applying for certification. “For this new certification, testing will be a lot more comprehensive,” explains Claus Klein, Manager of Engineering Quality and Certification at NPROXX. “This means that the new R134 certification will be more difficult to obtain, but the procedure will ensure our pressure vessels are totally safe for use under all circumstances. While this creates further work for us, it is for good reason and will be a worthwhile process.”

Introducing stronger safety standards means that assessing applications for the R134 will become more rigorous, with technology tested under more strenuous conditions. Previously, NPROXX performed the required tests across a number of pressure vessels. However, to meet the revamped standard, manufacturers will have to perform all the most demanding tests on a single application. In addition to this requirement, further regulatory documents will also now be required to gain certification.

While this does present a major challenge, the re-certification of all (EC) 79 hydrogen automotive applications will be manageable due to NPROXX’s extensive prior certification experience. “We have previously certified certain vessels under the R134 standard,” comments Klein. “Though this was under the previous iteration of the standard, the updated application will follow the same certification route, so we will be well-prepared for testing.”

To follow NPROXX’s certification journey, or find out more about our innovative hydrogen storage technology, read about our range of automotive applications or contact us directly.

Hydrogen power is transforming the potential of renewable power around the world, and many countries now realise that they need hydrogen power to meet their goals of net-neutrality. However, no single set of certifications and qualifications has yet been established to regulate this young industry.

As hydrogen storage specialists, NPROXX understands the crucial need for accessible, safe, clean energy, and we are at the forefront of addressing the issue of varying certification standards across the world. With that said, certification standards continue to evolve and adapt at different rates, meaning there is a significant challenge to plan and meet requirements for truly global production of advanced hydrogen storage systems.

NPROXX has the experience, knowhow and expertise to manage this regulatory challenge. As we continue to expand our customer base and operations beyond the European market, the need to re-certify our existing technology to new standards is a challenge that is shaping our strategic growth.

The UK

The certification of products in the United Kingdom is now increasingly complex, following the country’s departure from the European Union in January 2021. Brexit has triggered a restructure of many legislations, which includes industrial certification standards. This has greatly affected the hydrogen industry, as the addition of new special requirements means that all power storage technology and pressure vessel applications must be re-certified for use in the UK.

This has presented a significant challenge. “We are actively collaborating with the notified body on this, so we can ensure our products are UK-accredited as soon as possible,” says Claus Klein, Manager of Engineering Quality and Certification at NPROXX. “The new standard requirements the UK government are introducing are changing all the time, so we are working to tackle this re-certification in a reactive manner.”

North America

Certification for North America differs greatly to standards in Europe – testing methods are different and the logistics of test supervision are more difficult, due to the physical distance between the relevant notified bodies and industrial sites. For many European manufacturers, the biggest difficulty lies in building a relationship with the regulatory authority, the US Department of Transportation (DOT), who are required to witness testing alongside the notified body.

As NPROXX works on new projects in collaboration with its part-owner, Cummins, our US market ties continue to strengthen. “We see our affiliation with Cummins opening doors regarding certifying applications in America,” comments Klein. “As we aim to pursue further international standards, North America is currently our biggest goal. Through Cummins, we are constantly improving our stateside connections, and hope to move into a Cummins-owned facility in the US soon, so we will be even closer to operations and the notified bodies in that market.”

Currently, NPROXX looks to focus on attaining ASME standards – which will allow products to be manufactured for use in both the US and Canada – as well as the international ISO standards that are accepted across North America.

South Africa

NPROXX’s South African certification efforts have culminated in the technology created for Mogalakwena mine’s new 25ft hydrogen trucks. This project, executed in partnership with Anglo American, involved achieving certification standards in a particularly young hydrogen market. Currently, South Africa follows European standards. “Our certification achievements in Europe are serving us in many countries – not just those in the European Union,” adds Klein. “Countries like South Africa, Russia and Turkey are accessible to us through the certificates we have already gained, meaning we can produce our innovative products in many new markets.”

To follow NPROXX’s work internationally, read up on the latest business news or find out more about our work by exploring our manufacturing capabilities.

This September, the IAA Transportation fair will take place in Hannover, launching its new, expanded automotive concept for the first time. The event, formerly titled the IAA Nutzfahrzuege, is internationally known as the commercial vehicle industry’s key tradeshow.

NPROXX, represented by Sales team members Michael Himmen and Philipp Breuer, will be presenting alongside Cummins on the shareholder’s stand. The event will give NPROXX the opportunity to demonstrate our contribution to a more sustainable future of transportation, with a presentation featuring our newest innovations. At the centre of the presentation will be a display of NPROXX’s high-strength carbon fibre tanks and the exhibition of a 700-bar, on-board hydrogen truck.

As well as those mentioned, the presentation of NPROXX’s automotive technologies will feature a wide range of vehicles, from mid-sized transporters to heavy-duty vehicles, proving our accomplishments across the truck and bus industries. NPROXX’s range of robust hydrogen storage solutions are designed for high capacity and long distances, making them an ideal solution for the current needs of the automotive industry.

“The IAA Transportation will be another chance for people to see the wide variety of exciting technology we are working on, first-hand,” comments Himmen, Managing Director of Sales for NPROXX. “Visitors will see that, if you need a 500km+ transportation reach, but a battery-powered electric vehicle can’t do it and there is no fuel cell vehicle available, NPROXX has a solution for you.”

If you are interested in industry-leading hydrogen transport applications, you can find NPROXX on Stand A12, Hall 20 from 20^th–25^th September 2022.