Sprintex secures first production order for fuel cell compressors
Aeristech has placed its first order of 50 units of Sprintex’s S15 high-speed electric compressor.
Air compressor manufacturer Sprintex (ASX: SIX) has announced its first production order from UK technology company Aeristech for the manufacture of high-speed electric compressors to suit hydrogen fuel cell applications.
Sprintex has been manufacturing e-compressors for Aeristech for the last year under a collaboration formed in September 2021.
Following a year of design, extensive testing and engineering validation, Aeristech placed its first order of 50 units of Sprintex’s new S15 6-kilowatt hydrogen fuel cell compressor. This order has been valued at US$72,000 (A$108,000).
The company anticipates further orders to follow for the two larger models included in the agreement, S20 (10kW) and S39 (25kW).
Sprintex managing director Jay Upton said the company is proud to supply its first batch of production compressors to Aeristech and believes customer interest at the World Hydrogen Expo held in Germany in October could lead to further orders.
“I was really excited to see the level of interest and activity in this market segment, and the level of demand for our high efficiency electric compressors to meet the upcoming mandated reduction of carbon emissions from road vehicles in many advanced markets around the world,” he said.
e-Compressor design programs
Sprintex has also completed two other design programs for Aeristech this year, the first being a 4kW, 160,000rpm ultra-high speed two-stage e-compressor capable of high-pressure output for advanced fuel cell applications.
The second program was to design an 8kW ultra-speed heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) refrigerant compressor suitable for varied domestic and industrial heat pump applications.
It was designed to produce up to 35kW of heating capacity and is also intended for battery, motor and system cooling as well as cabin air conditioning in electric vehicles.
In March, Sprintex announced Aeristech had agreed to pay RMB524,000 (A$112,000) for the two design programs with a 50% deposit paid before the programs commenced.
Clean air compressors
Sprintex’s electric and mechanically-driven clean air compressors can be used in a variety of applications including combustion engines, where the company sells Sprintex-branded twin screw superchargers, and supercharger systems, in the automotive aftermarket and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) market in Australia, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the United States.
The compressors can also be used for hydrogen fuel cells, which require a constant flow of oxygen rich air, and industrial oil-free clean air applications including wastewater treatment.