September 2022, Kienberg/Gaming– New plant serving the hydrogen mobility market was completed in under two years
On September 9, representatives from politics and the press joined Worthington employees, partners, companions and neighbors to celebrate the official opening of the new plant.
More than 120 guests attended, including 10 national and regional politicians as guests of honor. Among these guests were Mag. Dr. Martin Kocher, Austria’s Minister of Labor and the Economy (similar to the cabinet position Secretary of Labor and Economy) and Representative for Lower Austria’s Governor Dr. Stephan Pernkopf (equivalent to a state Lieutenant Governor).
With the enlargement of production, the course is now set Worthington Sustainable Energy Solutions to play a major role in automotive, storage, transport and refueling markets that are making the transition to clean energies. The new plant will produce Type III and IV composite pressure vessels. The vessels are lightweight and made of metallic or polymeric liners with carbon fiber reinforcement that can withstand high pressures. Applications include onboard fueling systems for cars, trucks, buses, trains and ships as well as storage and transport containers for compressed hydrogen and compressed natural gas (CNG).
This puts Worthington at the forefront of heavy industry in Lower Austria by showing how traditional business models can evolve and serve Europe’s ambition to become energy independent while transition the economy to clean fuels. The first composite cylinders rolled off the production line in February 2021.
“The hydrogen plant makes us fit for the future, because it expands our product range immensely: we can now not only supply industrial gas customers with high-pressure tanks made of steel, but also Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) with high-pressure tank containers made of composite materials. Where the journey will take us remains to be seen,” said Worthington Industries Sustainable Energy Solutions Vice President Timo Snoeren.
The project was completed in spring 2021.
About Worthington Industries
Worthington Industries Europe is the largest designer and manufacturer of pressure vessels in the region with over 1,600 employees working at facilities in Austria, Poland and Portugal. Worthington is the first in its industry to incorporate sustainable practices into its long-term business strategy. With the lightest composite and steel low- and high-pressure cylinders available, Worthington designs and makes solutions for technical gases, industrial gases, and alternative fuels. The Company invests strategically in production facilities that serve the sustainable mobility market with gas-storage, transport and onboard fueling systems for cars, buses, trucks and more.
Worthington Industries (NYSE:WOR) is a leading industrial manufacturing company delivering innovative solutions to customers that span many industries including transportation, construction, industrial, agriculture, retail and energy. Worthington is North America’s premier value-added steel processor and producer of laser welded products; and a leading global supplier of pressure cylinders and accessories for applications such as fuel storage, water systems, outdoor living, tools and celebrations. The Company’s brands, primarily sold in retail stores, include Coleman®, Bernzomatic®, Balloon Time®, Mag Torch®, Well-X-Trol®, General®, Garden-Weasel®, Pactool International® and Hawkeye™. Worthington’s WAVE joint venture with Armstrong is the North American leader in innovative ceiling solutions.
Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Worthington operates 51 facilities in 15 states and seven countries, sells into over 90 countries and employs approximately 7,500 people. Founded in 1955, the Company follows a people-first philosophy with earning money for its shareholders as its first corporate goal. Relentlessly finding new ways to drive progress and practicing a shared commitment to transformation, Worthington makes better solutions possible for customers, employees, shareholders and communities.
Contacts:
Todd Cesaratto
Director of Communications + Marketing | Europe
Worthington Industries
+43 664 8868 2632
todd.cesaratto@worthingtonindustries.com