Agfa, a global leader in membrane technology, has unveiled its new, cutting-edge production facility for ZIRFON membranes, a crucial component in alkaline electrolyzers (AEL) for green hydrogen production. This significant expansion confirms Agfa’s readiness to meet escalating market demand and solidify its role in scaling up the worldwide shift to green hydrogen.
The inauguration ceremony, held on September 29th during European Hydrogen Week, featured high-profile attendees, including Bart De Wever, the Belgian Prime Minister; Wopke Hoekstra, European Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero, and Clean Growth; and Matthias Langemeyer, Head of Department for Green Research and Innovation at CINEA.
Meeting Soaring Global Demand
The new, state-of-the-art facility drastically increases the company’s manufacturing capacity for ZIRFON membranes. Designed with modular scalability, it is perfectly positioned to serve soaring global demand as green hydrogen moves from niche pilot projects toward full commercialization.
This capacity boost will benefit key markets essential for global decarbonization, such as steel and chemical production, heavy-duty transport (trucking and shipping), and large-scale renewable energy storage.
Backed by an €11 million grant from the EU’s Innovation Fund (part of the GIGA-SCALES project), the expansion establishes Agfa as a cornerstone of Europe’s industrial leadership in the energy transition.
A Milestone for Agfa and the Hydrogen Ecosystem
Pascal Juéry, CEO of Agfa, highlighted the importance of the opening: “The opening of our new ZIRFON plant is a milestone for Agfa and for the wider hydrogen ecosystem. We are determined to make green hydrogen an industrial reality, and this facility strengthens Agfa’s role as a key enabler of Europe’s net-zero ambitions and the global push for a sustainable energy future. As the Green Hydrogen Solutions business is one of Agfa’s major growth engines, today also marks an important step in the transformation of our company.”
Commissioner Hoekstra praised the initiative, stating: “The GIGA-SCALES project leads the way in innovation and climate action. By advancing cutting-edge membrane technology, it paves the path for sustainable hydrogen production in Europe. This initiative not only fights climate change but also accelerates Europe’s energy independence, industrial decarbonization, and global competitiveness. Backed by the Innovation Fund, GIGA-SCALES proves what focused innovation can achieve.”
Prime Minister De Wever remarked on Agfa’s history of adaptation: “Agfa-Gevaert has a proud tradition of reinvention. With this significant investment… the company is not only securing its own future — it is securing the sustainable future of our energy and our industries. Green hydrogen is crucial for decarbonizing logistics and heavy industry, where full electrification is difficult to achieve and fossil fuels still dominate. It allows us to seek solutions for a carbon-neutral economy without taboos.”
