Driving composite technology forward

DRIVING COMPOSITE

TECHNOLOGY FORWARD

Hexagon Raufoss is a listed group of companies with its head office in Alesund, Norway. The group employs more than 500 people and in 2015 generated sales of more than NOK 1.5 million. Philip Yorke takes a closer look at an ambitious, high-tech company that is changing the face of composite technology.

The Hexagon Group’s technology and acknowledged expertise is increasingly in demand worldwide. Much of this is due to the increased awareness of the difference between the world’s oil prices and international gas prices. A stable, high price differential is contributing to a major market transfer to natural gas both in the western world and in the developing countries.

In addition to this, the increased environmental regulatory requirements are an important market driver. New technology for the extraction of shale gas in the US also means there will most likely be a continuation of this considerable difference in the price between oil and gas for several decades to come. The strong focus in Europe on the use of cleaner energy sources will increase the use of gas-powered vehicles and in particular of buses. The company’s composite solutions today assist in making the transition to natural gas more cost-effective than ever before.

Innovation driving sales

The Hexagon Group has an extensive in-house research and development department in Norway that keeps the company one step ahead of its competitors. Currently the group’s technology and gas cylinder experts are very much in demand. Again, much of this is due to the market’s increased awareness of the need to reduce harmful emissions and the big price differential with oil.

It is well known that energy gases are much cleaner than liquid fuels, and therefore innovative products are being developed in cooperation with the main market players who will sell the products themselves, or who use them in their own products – for example in cars, buses, heavy day vehicles and wind turbines. This further strengthens the company’s expertise and its increasing development of innovative new products. In parallel with these advances, the company has consciously built up its expertise and capacity with a view to optimising the most cost-effective production of cylinders at its highly automated facilities.

The company told Industry Europe, “Our strategy is to build shareholder value and achieve growth as well as increased profitability within all our various business units. The company will continue to be the market leader in many of its selected niche markets in the composites industry. The Hexagon Group will continue to increase its market share by developing innovative and cost-effective composite solutions that are competitive in both price and functionality.

“Our highly automated production, optimised design and high capacity utilisation shall give us the best competitive advantage in the marketplace. Furthermore, we work closely with our customers to achieve the best outcomes and solutions. Innovation, ambition and expertise are important factors for success in our industry. At

Hexagon Composites we believe that innovation is best achieved when people with different approaches and experience are able to work together to create an exceptional outcome.”

Expanding global presence

Hexagon Raufoss, in association with Hexagon Lincoln, is the clear market leader within the sector of complete composite storage and transportation systems. This business unit includes fuel cylinders for passenger vehicles, buses and heavy vehicles, as well as distributing transportation and storage cylinders that include natural gas and hydrogen products.

The company is operating the world’s most advanced facilities designed for developing, testing and manufacturing complete composite type 4 pressure vessels and complete systems.

It has broadened its product portfolio and services recently to include such products as natural gas and hydrogen vehicle fuel tanks, bulk transportation modules, fuel tanks and fuel storage systems and accumulators.

Hexagon is constantly expanding its global presence and already has significant commercial interests in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Russia, South East Asia and Australia. Other regions including South Africa and the Far East are on the company’s agenda for further development.

A lightweight revolution

Hexagon produces the world’s biggest composite cylinders and these are unmatched by any other cylinder manufacturer. The challenge is that traditional bulk hauling for the transport of compressed gases employs extremely heavy-duty steel cylinders or tubes. The increased demand for gas and the growing focus on reducing energy costs and efficiency means that this can only be achieved by substantially reducing the weight of storage vessels. Also corrosion issues play a significant role in the modern safety concept for gas distribution.

The composite solution to the current weight problem of cylinder weight and corrosion means that for every 1kg of natural gas being transported, steel trailers must add 6–7kg of steel cylinder weight. However with Hexagon’s ‘Titan’ every 1kg of gas can be transported with only 1.3kg of composite cylinder weight.

The polymer liner and carbon composite structure of ‘Titan’ performs without the corrosion and fatigue risks that are associated with traditional steel cylinders. Therefore hydraulic re-testing of cylinders is not required over the entire lifetime of use with Hexagon’s ‘Titan’ composite cylinders. n

For further details of Hexagon Raufoss’s latest innovative products and services, visit wwwhexagonraufoss.com