The fuel cell stack pressing machine, also referred to as the stack press or fuel cell stack assembly machine, is designed to support the precise assembly and compression of fuel cell stacks during production. It is a key part of the fuel cell manufacturing process, ensuring proper alignment, sealing pressure, and uniformity across stacked membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs), bipolar plates, and gaskets.
The control system is equipped with both manual and automatic operating modes, selectable via a mode switch:
This stack pressing solution can be configured as a standalone machine or integrated into a fully automated fuel cell stack assembly line, supporting flexible production needs from prototyping to scaled manufacturing.
The stack pressing system supports two primary operating modes during pressing operations:
Both maximum pressure and maximum displacement values are interlocked for mutual protection and can be configured within the control program. Access to these parameters is restricted to administrator mode to ensure operational security and process integrity.
The fully automated fuel cell stack assembly line is designed for streamlined, high-efficiency production, integrating intelligent handling, precise stacking, and in-line quality control. The key features include AGV-fed loading system, robotic or gantry system with vision-guided stacking, automatic screw feeding & tightening, incline leak testing, and automated outfeed via AGV. The stack assembly system supports modular configurations, including standalone operation, semi-automated, or fully automated workflows, allowing flexible deployment based on production scale and investment stage.
Hangke provides automated systems for leak testing of complete fuel cell stacks as well as individual single cells, supporting inline quality control in high-throughput environments.
The testing modes include pressure decay method and flow rate method. The testing system integrates flow meters, pressure sensors, controllers, regulators, valves, and a PLC-based control unit to ensure real-time monitoring, traceability, and accurate leak detection across all testing stages.