Ballard Power Systems commissions initial manufacturing facility

Ballard Power Systems has commissioned its initial fuel cell manufacturing facility, Plant 1. "The capacity of this facility will allow us to meet the requirements of our customers as we introduce initial commercial products in each of our target markets, starting in 2001," said Eamonn Percy, Ballard's Vice-President, Operations. "We have put in place the building, the people, the processes and the manufacturing infrastructure."

Plant 1 is a 9,900-square-metre (110,000 sq. ft.) facility located adjacent to Ballard's corporate headquarters in Burnaby, B.C. Construction was completed in October 1999 and the building was officially opened by Jean Chretien, Prime Minister of Canada, in October 2000. During the past year equipment has been installed and commissioned for volume manufacturing of fuel cells. Plant 1 is currently meeting Ballard's immediate production requirements for fuel cells for portable power and automotive applications.

Edited by John McKnight
Assistant Editor, ElectricNet