On Monday, we had the pleasure of hosting the H2-RLP Tech Site Visit here in Neustadt. While presentations are often the focus of such events, it is the conversations and new connections that really help us move forward.

After coffee and pastries, we gathered for presentations on the hydrogen economy, modern materials, and sustainable infrastructure.

Dr. Stefan Stückrad, head of the Rhineland-Palatinate Hydrogen Coordination Office, provided insight into the current political framework for the hydrogen economy. Even as political conditions change, it became clear that hydrogen is becoming an increasingly important topic.

Dr.-Ing. Tobias Donhauser spoke on “Continuous-Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastics for Use in Hydrogen Applications.” One key advantage is that pipes made of fiber-thermoplastic composites can not only transport hydrogen but also serve as energy storage systems, unlike steel systems.

Anton Himmrich from Steuler-KCH GmbH presented current developments on “Pipelines for Transporting Hydrogen.” It became apparent that, ultimately, component testing determines which solutions prove effective in practice.

Dr.-Ing. Nicole Motsch-Eichmann from the Leibniz-Institut für Verbundwerkstoffe provided insights into “Current Research on Structural Components for the Hydrogen Economy.” The focus was on high-tech pressure tanks and the challenges involved in packaging and effectively integrating the tank domes. A major advantage, however, is that these tanks can also be used as structural components.

Afterward, attendees were able to gain insights into our UD-tape production, our materials analysis, and our component manufacturing, and ask questions on the spot.

The presentations and the tour of our facilities provided great inspiration for the discussions that followed over grilled food and cold drinks, and we hope everyone was able to take away as much as we did.

A big thank you to all the speakers, the Innovationsagentur Rheinland-Pfalz, and all the guests for the insightful discussions and new perspectives.

#H2RLP #Hydrogen #HydrogenEconomy #HydrogenInfrastructure #FiberComposites #FiberThermoplastics #Research #Development #Network #RhinelandPalatinate #fiberior