Continental opens new production line for hydrogen hoses at its location in Korbach

Continental recently commissioned a new production line for hydrogen hoses at its location in Korbach (Germany). This means the company’s industrial group sector ContiTech is now able to offer safe and efficient solutions along the entire hydrogen value chain. These range from the production and transportation of hydrogen through to its storage, distribution and use in fuel cells and the refueling of cars, trucks, ships and aircraft. The investment amount for the production facility is around €3 million. 

Hydrogen is considered a key building block for a more climate-friendly energy future. However, the safe storage and transportation of hydrogen pose considerable challenges. Dr. Michael Hofmann, Chief Technology Officer of ContiTech, says: “Our patent-pending hydrogen technologies from Korbach are an excellent example of our comprehensive material expertise and pioneering work. ContiTech has taken up the challenge of developing the most flexible and durable hydrogen dispensing hose. We are convinced that the hydrogen transition will also be driven by the availability of increasingly comfortable and high-performance components for users, and ContiTech is the first and only company currently offering this technology.”

High-pressure fueling hoses for hydrogen must be able to withstand extreme loads of up to 700 bar – more than 200 times the pressure in a car tire. This high compressive strength enables use in areas that are crucial for hydrogen industries. To meet these requirements, Continental’s material experts have developed a new veneer hose using an unusual combination of various materials. This hose consists of thermoplastics to ensure hydrogen tightness, steel for pressure resistance and rubber for flexibility and durability, making the handling of hydrogen at dispensing stations efficient and safe.

During the development phase, care was also taken to use as many sustainable materials as possible. The inner hose is free from halogenated plastics, and the metal reinforcement is completely recyclable. The company is working in the long term to integrate even more alternative materials and recycling approaches into its products.

Around 3,300 employees work in different sectors at Continental’s location in Korbach. Besides producing hoses for ContiTech, the plant manufactures tires for passenger cars (including high-performance tires), motorcycles and bicycles. Already in 2022, the company invested more than €4,5 million in a new facility to produce industrial hoses at the site. Since 2023, Continental’s Tech Center Hydrogen Technologies in Hamburg has served as a collaborative platform for sharing knowledge and developing hydrogen technologies. The two locations work closely together to identify technical, regulatory and infrastructure-related challenges along the entire hydrogen value chain and jointly develop innovative solutions.