Agfa has inaugurated a state-of-the-art facility for alkaline electrolyzer (AEL) membranes at its ZIRFON production site in Mortsel, Belgium. The inauguration ceremony took place on September 29, 2025, during European Hydrogen Week, marking a significant expansion of the company's capacity to manufacture ZIRFON membranes, which are vital components in alkaline water electrolyzers.

The ceremony was attended by high-profile European officials, including Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, Wopke Hoekstra, European Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero, and Clean Growth, and Matthias Langemeyer, Head of Department for Green Research and Innovation at CINEA (European Climate, Infrastructure, and Environment Executive Agency).

Facility Design and Market Applications

The new facility is designed with modular scalability to meet soaring global demand as green Hydrogen moves from niche projects to full commercialization. The expansion will benefit vital markets such as steel and chemical production, heavy-duty trucking and shipping, and large-scale renewable energy storage. The facility significantly expands Agfa's capacity to manufacture ZIRFON membranes, positioning the company to play a pivotal role in the global scale-up of green hydrogen.

Agfa describes itself as a global pioneer in membrane technology for green hydrogen production.

EU Funding and Strategic Positioning

The project is backed by an EUR 11 million grant from the EU's Innovation Fund and is positioned as a cornerstone of Europe's industrial leadership in the energy transition. The facility operates under the GIGA-SCALES project, which is co-funded by the European Commission under the Innovation Fund Program. Pascal Juéry, CEO of Agfa, stated:

“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.”

Government and EU Official Support

European Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra emphasized the project's significance, saying: “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.” Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever highlighted the company's adaptability and the importance of green hydrogen for industrial decarbonization: “Agfa-Gevaert has a proud tradition of reinvention. Again and again, it has shown the courage to adapt, to move forward, to be ready for the next economic age.

With this significant investment in a new production hall, 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.”

ZIRFON Technology and Company Background

Agfa's ZIRFON membranes are used in alkaline water electrolyzers to produce green hydrogen and are designed to power the green energy transition. Through their exceptional productivity and reliability, ZIRFON membranes enhance the efficiency, safety, and reliability of electrolyzers and bring down the cost of green hydrogen production. The industrial-scale production of these membranes paves the way for the widespread deployment of green hydrogen production infrastructure.

The Agfa-Gevaert Group is a leading company in imaging technology with nearly 160 years of experience. Agfa develops, manufactures, and markets analog and digital systems for the healthcare sector, the printing industry, the green hydrogen industry, and specific industrial applications. In 2024, the Group realized a turnover of 1,138 million euros.

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