How does Gefran promote sustainability and hydrogen technology?

Mr Rohmann, Gefran was recently recognised for its sustainability. Can you explain to us what this award is about?

Ralph Rohmann: "Yes, of course. We received an award for our excellent ESG rating (Environmental, Social, Governance), which evaluates the performance of companies in terms of environment, social, and corporate governance.

This rating now actually also has economic significance and is determined once a year. We are proud that Gefran has already been recognised as one of the top 50 companies in Italy for the third time."

Does this mean that your supply chain is particularly sustainably set up?

Rohmann: "The ESG rating considers sustainability holistically - both within our supply chain and within our company. We ensure that we implement sustainable processes and pass this commitment on to our suppliers. Together, we also initiate projects to improve sustainability."

Such measures are certainly associated with costs. Why does Gefran invest in sustainability?

Rohmann: "Sustainability is an investment in the future. It is not about polishing the image with money, but about living our company philosophy and value system. Sustainability is not only important for the environment but also for competitiveness in a future more sustainable industry."

On the topic of hydrogen: how do you approach the storage and compression of hydrogen? Which sensors play a role in this?

Rohmann: "We consider the pressure in different areas: in the production of bipolar plates we measure hydraulic or, in the case of plastics, the mass pressure. Additionally, water is pressurised during electrolysis to later split it into hydrogen and oxygen. Here, we operate in a classic pressure range of 0 to 50 bar. For storage, we differentiate between high-pressure areas (250 to 700 bar) at room temperature for gaseous hydrogen and low-pressure areas (up to 4 bar) at extremely low temperatures (-253°C) for liquid hydrogen. Suitable materials and the tightness of the systems are crucial here to store the hydrogen safely."

Does the sensor need to be integrated directly into the system, or can the pressure also be measured indirectly?

Rohmann: "Pressure can only be measured where it occurs. The measuring tip must be physically located in the pressure zone to deliver precise values. The signal conversion can take place at some distance and uses electro-physical detours such as the Wheatstone bridge, thus indirectly outputting the measurement values."

You mentioned in your lecture that companies need to adapt like a chameleon, and that this is particularly the case in the hydrogen sector. What does that mean specifically?

Rohmann: "Hydrogen technology is developing rapidly, and there are various competing technologies. For example, bipolar plates can be made of plastic or metal, with different coatings. In electrolysis, there are alkaline, PEM, and high-temperature technologies, which place different demands on sensors and actuators. Companies need to be flexible to provide the right products."

How does Gefran collaborate with the VDMA in this context?

Rohmann: "The VDMA has evolved into a European consortium and acts as the voice of the industry. We are, among others, a member of the P2X working group, which is intensively involved with the conversion of energy into gases like hydrogen and their use. Here, suppliers and manufacturers of electrolysers and fuel cells work together. This year, we have already had around 20 events on this topic."

Where do the requirements for hydrogen technology come from? Is it driven by customers, regulations, or the general need for CO2 reduction?

Rohmann: "The demand for hydrogen is related to decarbonisation efforts. The technical requirements primarily come from customers and are consolidated by us. Regulations are often subsequent, as many standards did not exist initially. For example, there are now newly specified requirements for sealing materials for hydrogen. We look at market trends and develop sustainable business cases from them."