As Market Matures, Hydrogen Expo US Grows - New Business for Exhibitors -
Standing in Line for the "Ride & Drive"

Long Beach/CA, Alpen/Germany, 20-March-2006 - The fourth Hydrogen Expo US, held again as part of the National Hydrogen Association's Annual Hydrogen Conference 2006 in Long Beach, California is still on the growth path. From March 12 to 14, 92 exhibitors (2005: 65) showcased the latest in hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, drawing almost 2,000 attendees (2005: 1,500) into the exhibit hall. A growing international participation on the exhibitor side proves the importance of the leading gathering of industry professionals committed to clean energy in North America.
One of the event's highlights was the "Ride & Drive", hosted by the National Hydrogen Association and organized by the California Fuel Cell Partnership. Twelve vehicles were available for test-rides, including a new version of Honda's FCX, the Toyota FCHV, DaimlerChrysler's F-Cell, the GM HydroGen3, and a Pick-Up converted to hydrogen combustion by ETEC. Due to the great interest, standing in line for a spin in one of these cars could hardly be avoided. The concept of converting conventional vehicle engines to hydrogen fuel was also presented in the expo hall. There, a highway patrol car from Hydrogen Labs and Quantum's Prius-based hybrid with a fuel cell and an H2 internal combustion engine stood out. BMW, whose presentation was regarded as the most attractive booth by many, among other things playfully visualized the compression of the clean fuel for the combustion engine of the new H2-7series.
Compressor, valve and sensor technologies comprise another growing segment of Hydrogen Expo US. "This demonstrates how the expo grows with the market", says Ines Freesen, Managing Director of expo organizer Freesen & Partner GmbH. "For a number of exhibitors the event has helped to pave their way into market." Pdc Machines for example, a manufacturer of diaphragm compressors for various uses of hydrogen, was able to generate some US$ 5 million in new business from Hydrogen Expo US since 2003.
Exhibitor General Physics (GP) was enthusiastic about their participation, too: "Hydrogen Expo US was a great success for us", commented Mary Cyr, responsible for GP's booth. "We were able to make many new contacts and network with new and existing clients." - "Not only the big players such as Air Products, Linde, Ballard, Hydrogenics or UTC benefit from the expo", concludes Ines Freesen. "Smaller suppliers have also been successful in strengthening their foothold in this growth sector, which currently offers the best potential in the United States."
Source: http://www.hydrogenexpo.com/press.htm

Schlussbericht zur Hydrogen Expo US

Auch die vierte Hydrogen Expo US, die vom 12. bis 14. März im kalifornischen Long Beach statt fand, verzeichnete einen ungebrochenen Aufwärtstrend, so der Schlussbericht: "92 Aussteller (2005: 65) präsentierten das Neueste aus der Wasserstoff- und Brennstoffzellentechnologie und lockten damit mehr als 2000 Besucher (2005: 1.500) in die Messehallen. Aus Deutschland vertreten waren unter anderem Andreas Hofer, BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, GSR Ventiltechnik, Kompetenz-Netzwerk Brennstoffzelle und Wasserstoff NRW, Linde, MST Technology und UST Umweltsensortechnik." Eine besondere Attraktion der Hydrogen Expo US und der parallel laufenden Annual Conference der National Hydrogen Association sei wieder der "Ride & Drive" gewesen - zwölf Fahrzeuge, darunter neue Modelle wie der überarbeitete FCX von Honda, hatten dabei zu Testfahrten eingeladen. Zu den in der Ausstellung gezeigten Fahrzeugen gehörten ein auf H2-Kraftstoff umgerüstetes Polizeiauto, ein bulliger Pick-Up mit H2-Verbrennungsmotor und Quantums Hybridfahrzeug mit Brennstoffzelle und Wasserstoffmotor. Ein stetig wachsendes Segment der Hydrogen Expo US mache die Kompressor-, Ventil- und Sensortechnik aus. "Hier zeigt sich, wie die Messe mit dem Markt wächst", sagt Ines Freesen, Geschäftsführerin des Veranstalters Freesen & Partner GmbH. "Für immer mehr Aussteller ist sie entscheidender Marktbereiter." Pdc Machines, Hersteller von Membrankompressoren für die H2-Verdichtung, beispielsweise habe durch die Hydrogen Expo US seit 2003 rund 5 Mio. US Dollar an Neugeschäft generieren können.
Quelle: Brennstoffzellen - Newsletter Nr. 0203