One recent recipient of Evaluator- C050 test stations, with integrated TrueData-EIS- impedance analyzers and quickCONNECT- fixtures, has been Freudenberg-NOK. With FuelCon's impedance analyzer built into their test stations, companies like Freudenberg-NOK are capable of automatically performing full frequency scans from 200 µHz to 100 kHz with a maximum DC current of up to 150 Amps. As a member of the USFCC's single cell protocol working group, Freudenberg-NOK recognized the value of FuelCon's quickCONNECT- single cell fixture. The fixture uses a pneumatic piston to rapidly assemble the cells therefore avoiding the time consuming method of torque-wrench assembly. The applied pressure and cell temperature is controlled by the test station ensuring highly reproducible cell assembly.

As a result, this tool allows developers to easily perform force, temperature and humidity impact studies on gaskets, membranes and GDLs. "In Freudenberg-NOK's view, the FuelCon C050 stations are the most sophisticated single cell PEM test stations currently available on the market. They offer the most automated features as well as the most flexible programming language", said Christian Fau, senior engineer at Freudenberg-NOK. "FuelCon's service team in Germany also provides first class customer service, which is extremely important to make our use of testing time as efficient as possible. I am confident they will enable us to collect repeatable data and further accelerate the development of our fuel cell components".

Blair Heffelfinger, General Manager of FuelCon Systems Inc., "We are encouraged by the response that we have received concerning these new products from the fuel cell community and we will continue to invest in the development of innovative testing tools. The comments by Freudenberg-NOK are a reflection of FuelCon's on-going dedication towards product quality and customer service".