Raymond to study hydrogen fuel cells

18/01/07 10:05 Filed in: Industry Links
Raymond Corp.'s manufacturing facility in Greene will transform this year into a "test lab" focused on researching hydrogen fuel cell applications in electric lift trucks.
Raymond said it also will develop the infrastructure needed for indoor fast-fill hydrogen refueling systems, which are typically installed outdoors.
The goal of the program is to study the performance of hydrogen fuel in electric forklifts and demonstrate the safety of a hydrogen fueled forklift environment, the company said.
Hydrogen-fuel cells offer higher productivity because they can be rapidly refueled in several minutes versus several hours, eliminating the need to change a battery, Raymond said. Cost savings come from eliminating the need to buy batteries and chargers, and from labor savings, the company said.
A recent $750,000 award from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority will help fund the program.
"The Raymond Corp. is committed to researching the application of hydrogen as an alternate method for storing energy on its forklift equipment," said Michael Field, Raymond vice president of research and development, in a written statement. "The NYSERDA contract confirms the merits of our project and supports our business strategy to develop fuel cell technology for electric forklift applications. By using our own facility as a test lab, we can streamline the development process and learn firsthand the requirements for using fuel cell-powered forklifts in a manufacturing environment."
Both manufacturing and research and development personnel at Raymond's Greene facility will work on the program, Field said.
"We do not expect it to have a direct impact on employment or production, but it will help ensure that Raymond products are compatible with alternative energy sources, which are likely to become more prevalent in the near future."
Raymond Corp.'s manufacturing facility in Greene will transform this year into a "test lab" focused on researching hydrogen fuel cell applications in electric lift trucks.
Raymond said it also will develop the infrastructure needed for indoor fast-fill hydrogen refueling systems, which are typically installed outdoors.
The goal of the program is to study the performance of hydrogen fuel in electric forklifts and demonstrate the safety of a hydrogen fueled forklift environment, the company said.
Hydrogen-fuel cells offer higher productivity because they can be rapidly refueled in several minutes versus several hours, eliminating the need to change a battery, Raymond said. Cost savings come from eliminating the need to buy batteries and chargers, and from labor savings, the company said.
A recent $750,000 award from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority will help fund the program.
"The Raymond Corp. is committed to researching the application of hydrogen as an alternate method for storing energy on its forklift equipment," said Michael Field, Raymond vice president of research and development, in a written statement. "The NYSERDA contract confirms the merits of our project and supports our business strategy to develop fuel cell technology for electric forklift applications. By using our own facility as a test lab, we can streamline the development process and learn firsthand the requirements for using fuel cell-powered forklifts in a manufacturing environment."
Both manufacturing and research and development personnel at Raymond's Greene facility will work on the program, Field said.
"We do not expect it to have a direct impact on employment or production, but it will help ensure that Raymond products are compatible with alternative energy sources, which are likely to become more prevalent in the near future."
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