Press release submitted on behalf of DELO.
DELO and DATRON, Windach, Germany/Sudbury, Massachusetts, have developed a system solution that enables the sealing of fuel cells to be carried out with a high degree of automation and precision. The combination of DELO’s fast‑curing liquid gasket and UV‑curing technology with DATRON’s high‑speed dispensing system significantly shortens cycle times and increases process reliability – both during manufacturing and in the subsequent operation of fuel cells.
At the core of the solution is DELO PHOTOBOND SL, a liquid gasket material specifically developed for fuel‑cell applications. It is applied in liquid form and cured by light within just a few seconds. In addition to its extremely short curing time, it offers high resistance to typical reference media such as sulfuric acid and deionized water – a key factor for the reliability and service life of modern fuel cells.
Precise application is ensured by the DATRON evo 600, which achieves exceptionally high dispensing speeds of up to 50 meters per minute. The volumetric system guarantees a constant bead cross‑section, even at start and stop points. This makes it possible to produce hundreds of cells with consistently high quality that can then be reliably combined into a stack. The liquid application allows maximum design flexibility in gasket geometry and is ideally suited for automated production. Both the integrated confocal sensor, which measures the gasket height immediately after dispensing, and the adhesive’s fluorescence enable fast inline quality control.
Link to video: https://youtu.be/2OGiwwJfUNA?si=l5v9mBV8NdH8v1oY
Stack sealing as a key factor in fuel‑cell industrialization
“Sealing the individual fuel cells is often an underestimated but decisive step in the entire stack manufacturing process. Only if absolute tightness is achieved can the system operate reliably over the long term,” emphasizes Julian Hopf, product manager Energy Storage and Conversion at DELO. “With the upcoming industrialization of fuel‑cell production, speed is equally essential – and this new system solution makes a major contribution to achieving it.”
The new manufacturing process developed by DELO and DATRON, by contrast, represents a highly scalable and future‑proof alternative – ideal for the transition from small‑scale to mass production. Up to now, sealing has typically relied on time‑consuming, complex and energy‑intensive processes.
About DELO Industrial Adhesives
DELO is a leading manufacturer of high-tech adhesives and other multifunctional materials as well as adhesive dispensing and curing technology. Its products are mainly used in the semiconductor, automotive and consumer electronics industries. They can be found in almost every mobile phone and in most cars worldwide, for example in cameras, loudspeakers, electric motors or sensors. Customers include Bosch, Huawei, Mercedes-Benz, Osram, Siemens and Sony.
DELO’s headquarters are in Windach, Germany, near Munich, with subsidiaries in China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and USA, as well as representative offices and distributors in numerous other countries. The company employs a workforce of 1,160 staff and achieved revenues of €245 million in the last fiscal year.
For more information, visit www.delo-adhesives.com.