The Alfa Laval group, a major player in the decarbonisation industry, has spent 140 years developing solutions that adapt to the evolving energy market. On Thursday the 4th of April 2024, Alfa Laval launched a new production line dedicated to printed circuit heat exchangers (PCHE) at the Alfa Laval Vicarb plant (Le Fontanil, Isère). This new line incorporates cutting-edge diffusion-welding (bonding) technology, making it possible to produce an ultra-compact solution that supports the energy transition in a number of sectors (energy, marine, etc.), particularly in hydrogen-related applications.

With the launch of this new production line, Alfa Laval is bringing specialist expertise to the Hydrogen Valley, making Le Fontanil a hub of excellence among PCHE production sites in France. The new line will also produce around 1,000 Hybloc™ units per year. This French-manufactured PCHE works as a pre-cooler in hydrogen refuelling stations, cooling the hydrogen before it enters a vehicle.

With 300,000 vehicles in Europe estimated to use this energy by 2030, Alfa Laval plans to deploy 1,000 stations across France to support the scale up. Prospects for development in this market therefore come with significant growth opportunities for the group.

Alfa Laval Vicarb, a PCHE excellence hub in France

Established in 1973 in Fontanil-Cornillon, the company Vicarb joined the Alfa Laval group in 2000. With its 230 employees, it has become a nerve centre for the production of welded plate heat exchangers.

In 2024, Alfa Laval is going a step further by investing in a new production line dedicated to printed circuit heat exchangers (PCHE). In this new line, a wet etching technique is used to make the thermal performance of the PCHE fluid-carrying pipes exceptionally high, while cutting-edge diffusion-bonding technology is used to produce an extremely robust heat exchanger core. The result? Alfa Laval's printed circuit heat exchangers (PCHE) offer greater robustness, integrity, and heat transfer rates in a unit that is 85% smaller and lighter than shell and tube heat exchangers. The unique design provides outstanding performance, lower installation and operating costs.

Showcasing Alfa Laval's ISO 50001 certified production site

Alfa Laval products are perfect for customers looking to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and become carbon neutral by 2030. A commitment which Alfa Laval also applies to its own global activity.

Since 2022, Alfa Laval Vicarb has been leading the way to sustainable production by becoming the group's first site to obtain ISO 50001 certification. To comply with the requirements of this certification, Alfa Laval Vicarb needed to initiate various projects that optimise energy consumption, both at the production site and in the neighbouring offices. This certificate confirms Alfa Laval's sustainable approach to energy management in production.

With Hybloc™ production now in Le Fontanil, Alfa Laval places itself at the core of France's green hydrogen ecosystem.

This new PCHE production line means that Alfa Laval can develop its Hybloc™, the latest solution for hydrogen refuelling, in Europe. As the world's second biggest market for hydrogen, the European Union is a benchmark region for the development of hydrogen-based mobility. So, to anticipate the increase demand, Alfa Laval is introducing a diffusion-bonding technology, previously only used at the Alfa Laval CorHex site in Korea, in the hydrogen valley of France. This unique welding technology simultaneously applies pressure and heat to assemble 2 components and is a vital step in the production of printed circuit heat exchangers.

Thanks to the installation of special furnaces, Alfa Laval is now able to increase its Hybloc™ exchanger production capacity to 1,000 units per year. This all comes alongside the ImaGHYne project, which encourages the development of a major hydrogen valley within the region. Alfa Laval joined forces with the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regional council with an investment of €10 million to make it happen.

Looking to the future with technologies and expertise in tomorrow's industries

The new production line requires its welders to be trained in diffusion-bonding techniques; the latest of many qualifications and skills needed when creating Alfa Laval Vicarb heat exchangers. This comes in addition to the thorough checks that need to be carried out during and after the production process to guarantee end product quality, including:

• Visual and dimensional checks conducted entirely by operators
• Non-destructive tests conducted by independently-trained verifiers
• Hydraulic pressure tests (up to 2,000 bars)
• Process assessments and monitoring by quality control staff
• Audits and checks performed by various external inspectors accompanied by Alfa Laval own inspection department

These measures comply with ISO standards, PED regulations, and the ASME code applying to pressure vessels.

A key player in the green hydrogen market

According to forecasts, green hydrogen could account for up to 24% of the energy market by 2050. So, to meet the increasing demand for solutions across the hydrogen value chain, Alfa Laval is positioning itself as a key supplier for all its applications. It is doing so by supplying a wide range of economical, high-performance heat exchangers intended for:

• The distribution and transportation sectors. In the form of hydrogen refuelling stations, as well as hydrogen storage, compression, and decompression systems
• The industrial-scale production of green hydrogen

Thanks to major R&D investments, the group is constantly developing new solutions that can reach new heights when it comes to heat exchanger performance, no matter the intended end use.

For example, Alfa Laval's ultra-compact solutions are designed to operate at the high standards required by the marine, energy, hydrogen, oil, and gas sectors. The group also provide equipment for long-term energy storage for renewable energy options such as wind and solar power.

ATLANTA — ECIA is pleased to announce that Ron Reed, Director of Supplier Operations at Avnet (Americas) has joined the Global Industry Practices Committee (GIPC). The GIPC works to identify common global problems and issues, organize Subject Matter Experts to research, provide guidance and drive adoption of measures to increase efficiencies throughout the global authorized channel for electronic components.

"I am thrilled to welcome Ron to the GIPC. We will take advantage of his 30 years of experience in the broader electronics distribution industry. He will be a valuable addition to the talented team of industry professionals already on our current committee,” Don Elario, ECIA’s VP of Industry Practices commented. “I look forward to working with him to drive best practices within our industry.”

“I am super-excited to be working with a group of talented and experienced industry leaders to promote best practices,” Ron added.

Ron began his career at Insight Electronics (Memec Group) working in logistics, asset management and sales. For the past 9 years he has resided in Guadalajara, Mexico, leading local Avnet teams focused on customer service, procurement, and product management. Ron holds a BS from Brigham Young University and an MPA from San Diego State University. He and his wife Michelle have three children and two grandchildren. Ron’s outside interests include Latin American cuisine and culture, travel, reading, freediving and spearfishing.

WEST CHICAGO, IL – Bob Duke, president of American Standard Circuits' Global Sourcing Division, announces the opening of a new 12,000-square-foot warehouse in West Chicago.

As the Global Sourcing division continues its rapid growth, it has become necessary that ASC provide customers with secure storage space for their products.

Commenting on this new investment, Duke said, “This division is growing much faster than we expected. Our current customers are taking advantage of all the efficiencies, savings, and overall value they are receiving. Fortunately, we are adding new customers every month as well. Adding this new warehousing service is only the first step in increasing our business and services such as JIT (Just In Time).”

CAMBRIDGE, UK – "Forever chemicals", or PFAS, are coming under increasing regulatory pressure globally as concerns over the negative effects of PFAS on human health and the environment are mounting. In their brand new report, "Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) 2024: Emerging Applications, Alternatives, Regulations", IDTechEx dives deeply to explore the future trajectory of PFAS in five key emerging applications: thermal management for data centers, sustainable food packaging, electric vehicles, low-loss materials for 5G, and the hydrogen economy.

Introducing the "forever chemical" family – PFAS

PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and refers to synthetic chemical compounds that contain multiple fluorine atoms attached to an alkyl chain. The broad definition of PFAS by the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development encompasses nearly 5,000 unique chemicals, including PFOA, PFOS, and PTFE.

Unsurprisingly, the applications of different PFAS chemicals are nearly as broad as the chemical family itself. Depending on the specific chemical, PFAS are used in industries including semiconductor manufacturing, healthcare, non-stick cookware, and firefighting foams.

Why are concerns over PFAS rising?

Why are PFAS now coming under increased scrutiny? The colloquialism "forever chemicals" hints at a key issue for PFAS: its persistence in humans, wildlife, and the environment. Not only is PFAS persistent, but they can also be found even in isolated areas; thus, humans can be exposed to PFAS through a variety of sources. Now, scientific evidence is growing that, depending on different factors, continued exposure to specific PFAS may lead to negative health effects, such as increased risk of cancer, developmental delays, and hormonal issues (per the US EPA and the OECD).

A new regulatory landscape changing the trajectory of PFAS

With growing concerns over the impact of PFAS on human health and the environment, there are pushes for increased regulations on the use of certain groups of PFAS. Several important regions in the global economy are considering or adopting universal PFAS restrictions, including the European Union (which introduced its universal PFAS restriction proposal in 2023) and the US states of Maine and Minnesota. With such a complicated landscape of PFAS regulations potentially developing worldwide, it is essential for businesses to understand existing and proposed regulations for PFAS to understand its potential effect on them.

Alternatives for PFAS in emerging high-tech applications: a critical consideration

As such, with broad legislation potentially impacting PFAS in countless different applications, it is essential for businesses to consider potential alternatives for PFAS.

Heavy regulations on PFAS would be particularly impactful in emerging high-tech applications. In these less-established markets, PFAS can sometimes act as key technology enablers. PFAS could be used as membranes in fuel cells, as coolants for immersion cooling in data centers, as insulating materials in high-voltage cables, or as moisture-repelling coatings in molded fiber packaging. Therefore, identifying replacements for PFAS in those applications will be important for the future growth of those emerging areas.

For businesses manufacturing or using PFAS in high-tech fields, IDTechEx’s new report, "Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) 2024: Emerging Applications, Alternatives, Regulations", not only identifies the specific impact of different PFAS regulations in key emerging application areas but also identifies potential alternatives for PFAS in these areas. Covering a broad range of growing yet critical future markets, the five main emerging technology areas analyzed by IDTechEx are:

• Membranes in the hydrogen economy
• Thermal management for data centers
• Electric vehicles
• Low-loss materials for 5G
• Sustainable food packaging

There are many alternatives that could potentially replace PFAS in these emerging applications. These alternatives may be at different stages of technology readiness and market maturity, but by analyzing their status, suppliers, advantages, disadvantages, etc., a critical assessment of these non-PFAS alternatives' market potential can be developed. Some alternatives have the potential to substantially impact their application areas, while others have a much longer road to market penetration that includes solving major technical and economic challenges. Regardless, for anyone connected to emerging industries, the pressure is increasing to have a clear understanding of how future PFAS regulations may impact nascent high-tech industries but also what commercial and developing alternative materials are available to replace PFAS in these industries.

For more information on the new IDTechEx report "Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) 2024: Emerging Applications, Alternatives, Regulations", including downloadable sample pages, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/PFAS