Eberspaecher has entered the hydrogen and fuel cell technology market through the complete acquisition of Victori, otherwise known as VAIREX air systems. Moving forward, Eberspaecher will offer air supply components for fuel cell systems.
Victori develops and produces fuel cell cathode air compressors and related components. These control the power that the fuel cell generates through accurate airflow and pressure supply, making it a key component for the performance of fuel cells and contributing significantly to the performance, packaging, and durability of the overall system.
"We are deliberately investing in a future market and want to grow purposefully with hydrogen and fuel cell technology," Martin Peters, managing partner, said. The Esslingen-based company is acquiring 100% of the shares of the U.S. company.
The technology is already utilized in stationary as well as in mobile fuel cells applications and includes emission-free forklifts and conveyor vehicles. In addition, they are used as range extenders in light delivery vehicles as well as in stationary power generation systems. Due to the reliability of the components, they can be used in fuel-cell trucks or buses in the future.
"After years of strong and recently accelerating growth, VAIREX needed to significantly expand our scale and global footprint to keep pace with the fuel cell industry,” Ski Milburn, CEO of VAIREX air systems, said. “Eberspächer is an excellent fit, and we are thrilled to become part of this great company. Together we can quickly amplify our engineering and manufacturing capabilities and introduce our planned new products much quicker than we could have done it by ourselves." Milburn will remain in operational management with the current management team.
With headquarters and production in Boulder, Colorado as well as sales operations in Tokyo, Seoul, and Shanghai, Victori has delivered more than 15,000 air compressors to customers in 25 countries worldwide.
“While acquiring VAIREX we open up a new business area for Eberspaecher,” Jörg Schernikau, COO of climate control systems and automotive controls at Eberspaecher, said. “In doing so, we rely on the many years of Dr. Massimo Venturi’s experience. With his knowledge in fuel cell technology, he will, in addition to his previous functions at Eberspaecher, become President of VAIREX, and further develop the company.”
