Japanese chemical company Toray has acquired SolviCore, a 50 / 50 joint-venture of Umicore and Solvay for an undisclosed sum.

Established in 2006, SolviCore offers membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) that are used in fuel cells and proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis.

The Hanau, Germany, company has a workforce of more than 40 across its research, development, production, and sales departments.

Under the Greenerity portfolio, SolviCore supplies products for applications that include hydrogen and reformate fuel cells, and PEM-water-electrolysis.

The fuel cell components are manufactured on specially designed pilot production lines.

Greenerity MEAs can be configured as per the stack size and stack design, and are claimed to provide an extended lifetime and reliable operation under field conditions.

With this transaction, SolviCore will gain access to Toray's expertise in fuel cell materials and mass production.

Toray plans to base operations of SolviCore at Hanau-Wolfgang Industriepark near Frankfurt, Germany.

Following the completion of the deal, Solvay and Umicore will continue with their operations in the fuel cell material segment.

Solvay will focus on innovation in the fuel cell industry for mobility, stationary and other markets using its capabilities in advanced materials, while Umicore will continue to develop and commercialise electro-catalysts for the fuel cell industry.