The Chemours Company announced plans to enter into a joint venture with BWT FUMATECH Mobility GmbH to understand the critical role heavy-duty fuel cell (HDFC) membranes play in driving the global H₂ economy. Through this partnership, Chemours and BWT will integrate their complementary capabilities, resources, and technological expertise—as well as more than 85 years of combined experience in fuel cell membrane innovation—to expedite supply to original equipment manufacturers and to ensure growing demand is met in the near and long terms.

Chemours—inventor of Nafion ion exchange membranes and dispersions, which are inextricable to the H₂ economy—possesses great expertise in the production of the building blocks of high-performance HDFC membranes. Located in Germany, THE Mobility F.C. Membranes Company will cooperate with FUMATECH—a subsidiary of the private Austrian-based BWT Group—and its existing production technology and line operations to convert Chemours Nafion ion exchange materials into industry-leading end-product membranes. The companies estimate that within 12 months of startup, the joint venture will be able to ramp up the capacity of manufacturing heavy-duty humidifier and fuel cell membranes for strategic long-term customers.

“The estimated size of the heavy-duty fuel cell membrane market is expected to grow to about $900 MM by 2030, which speaks volumes to how critical this technology is, and will continue to be, as the planet pursues robust goals for decarbonization,” said Denise Dignam, President of Advanced Performance Materials at Chemours. “Chemours is committed to taking on the world’s biggest challenges through the power of our chemistry and driving investment in supporting the hydrogen economy. This joint venture with BWT FUMATECH demonstrates the exact type of collaboration that empowers us to uphold that commitment. This is an ideal partnership, possessing everything required to go from monomer to membrane with the agility, efficiency, and production volume necessary to bring affordable hydrogen energy solutions to mass markets.”

“In coming together to combine the best assets and competencies of both partners, THE Mobility F.C. Membranes Company GmbH, will focus on establishing the resources and processes to secure the path for long-term success in line with the growth within the hydrogen space,” said Andreas Weissenbacher, CEO BWT. “Ultimately, our work together will fill a pipeline of needed products critical to achieving a global, sustainable hydrogen economy."