14. September 2022Hydrogen test center of Sonplas GmbH ready for operation

The innovation project of Sonplas GmbH, the in-house hydrogen test center, is completed and ready for use. After almost two years of development, conception and assembly, the first tests with customer components are successfully carried out in the test center.  The IAV Cross H was also successfully integrated into the hydrogen test rig – a measuring system for testing hydrogen injection valves that was further developed from the IAV Cross in cooperation with IAV automotive engineering.

All-in-one solution as a unique selling point

The hydrogen-carrying components can be tested for function in the test bench. The knowledge gained from this is then used by our customers for further product development and improvement. This ensures that the components meet the necessary requirements for subsequent series production.

The unique selling point of our test center is the all-in-one service that Sonplas offers its customers. In contrast to the purchase of other test benches on the market, the customer does not have to design and assemble the individual trades himself, but receives everything from a single source.

Cooperation with IAV: Joint development of a hydrogen injector measurement system

Furthermore, Sonplas was able to further expand its cooperation with the Berlin-based company IAV. In the past, Sonplas had already used IAV Cross, a technical system developed by IAV for measuring injection valves, in its test benches.

This technology was jointly further developed for hydrogen and adapted in the Sonplas Hydrogen Test Center so that the flow characteristics of H2 injectors can also be analyzed. The system consists of a hydraulic unit, measurement and control technology, and the appropriate software supplied by the Berlin-based company. The IAV Cross H is now being prepared for market launch in a test phase lasting several months and can be used for test series at the H2 Test Center site.

More about the development process of the test bench and the associated test center can be read in the project diary.