Topsoe Fuel Cell has reorganised its technical activities into three new functions (Stack Development, Manufacturing, and Technology Demonstration Projects) to better meet future challenges in the fuel cell industry. At the same time, the new organisation provides a basis for the significant increase in personnel, which is foreseen for 2007 and onwards. The new organisation became effective as of 1 January 2007.

The ‘Stack Development function’ is responsible for the continuous optimisation of our stack technology, including next generation technology and modified stack designs for new business areas. The Development function is managed by Christian Olsen.

The ‘Manufacturing function’ is responsible for the cell and stack production, for production development, and for quality assurance. The function will also be responsible for procurement and installation of production equipment for a new cell and stack manufacturing plant, which is scheduled to start up during the first half of 2008. This function is managed by Søren Primdahl.

The ‘Technology Demonstration Projects function’ is responsible for planning, man-aging and executing all external projects, including test, demonstration and validation activities with industrial collaboration partners and publicly funded projects. The Technology Demonstration Projects function is led by Joachim Jacobsen, who joined the company as of January 1st, 2007.

“We are confident that this new organisation, focusing our resource allocation on development, manufacturing and demonstrations projects, will help us become more competitive and enable us to meet the demands of the market”, says Claus Olsen, managing director of Topsoe Fuel Cell. “The coming years are expected to be crucial in the industry: those who first manage effectively to up-scale their production and lower the manufacturing costs will go on to the next phase. At the same time, it is vital that we can deliver the results by means of an increasing number of test and demonstration projects, but it is equally important to continuously develop and prepare for the introduction of next generation technology.”

The new organisation also forms the first step of the planned expansion of the company. Within 2007, Topsoe Fuel Cell expects to hire additionally 10 to 15 engineers and technicians to take part in the establishment of the new manufacturing facility and the increasing number of projects. “We are happy that Joachim Jacobsen has joined our company. He has extensive management experience from a R&D environment, and we are confident that he will be able to perform the important task of executing our demonstration projects in a manner which is both effective and satisfactory to our partners“, says Niels Christiansen, Topsoe Fuel Cell‘s technical director.