STOKOTA and Worthington Enterprises join capabilities to ramp up production of 20-ft containers
Using hydrogen technologies to decarbonize the mobility sector requires large-scale modifications to vehicle manufacturing and fueling infrastructure. Collaboration can help the transformation to clean mobility achieve sufficient velocity; however, this requires not just heavy capital investment, but also a shift in mindset. Historically, players in the automotive value chain have seen guarding design and production strengths as the only way to hold and expand market share against competitors.
On the hydrogen landscape STOKOTA and Worthington see a different dynamic at work. Shared expertise offers the means to win market share faster on the hydrogen landscape, which still offers ample open real estate. Therefore, the two companies have matched production strengths in the design and assembly of hydrogen transport and storage systems. For over a decade, Worthington Enterprises has pursued a business strategy to offer the clean-fuel mobility market the capacity needed for hydrogen and CNG onboard fueling systems as wells as the necessary storage, transport, and refueling infrastructure. STOKOTA, a leader in the production of specialized tank vehicles for fuel transport, sees hydrogen transport as the next step in expanding the company’s core competence.
Two years ago, STOKOTA began developing transport solutions for compressed hydrogen. Decision makers started with an analysis of solutions and opportunities available on the market, at the conclusion of which they selected Worthington as a well-suited partner in generating business synergies through long-term cooperation. “Our own strengths in building road-ready, certified tank vehicles coupled with Worthington’s knowhow in designing and producing composite high-pressure cylinders and gas-street components will result in a high-end product – a container for the transportation of compressed hydrogen,” explained Wim De Gendt, CEO STOKOTA.
From the Worthington side, Ekaterina Levitskaia, Product Manager I Gas Containment Systems, added: “The quality and safety record that STOKOTA has in making fuel transport solutions convinced us that a long-term collaboration would bring many mutual benefits and allow both companies to focus on what they’re best at. Our experience in building compressed H2 cylinders and our multi-generational approach to product research and development will contribute to a healthy collaboration for years to come.”
Geography also played a role in combining design and production strengths. STOKOTA has two facilities in Poland near Worthington’s plant in Słupsk, Poland. This will bring the advantage of shortening and securing the supply chain, and help ensure that the companies deliver their first co-produced systems – two 20-foot containers for transporting hydrogen at 380 bar – later this year.