Alstom has acquired Helion Hydrogen Power and Flertex to expand its expertise in hydrogen and braking systems respectively.
Helion Hydrogen Power specialises in high-power fuel cells, while Flexert specialises in designing and manufacturing brake linings – the pads and shoes – for braking systems for rail as well as other industries.
Helion Hydrogen Power employs almost 30 people at its site in Aix-en-Provence. Its fuel cells go both towards the energy and the transport markets, both in France and internationally. To date, Helion Hydrogen Power has worked on more than 100 projects.
“This acquisition is an exciting development opportunity for Helion Hydrogen Power and its employees. Alstom will focus on developing the full potential of the innovative technology and expertise of this promising company. This transaction is in line with Alstom's strategy to extend and enhance its expertise in sustainable, intelligent mobility.”
The transaction completed on 1 April 2021. Renamed ALSTOM Hydrogène S.A.S., it will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Alstom.
Flertex has around 120 employees, most of whom work at its sites in Gennevilliers and Saint-Florentin. The company’s annual turnover is around 16 million euros (2020 figures). More than half of this turnover comes from the rail industry, with customers predominantly in France and Europe but also in Latin America.
“We are pleased with this acquisition which, similarly to IBRE, enhances our solutions and skills in the field of braking to meet our own needs as well as those of our customers.”
Flertex has invested in researching how to increase brake performance, and how to reduce noise and the emission of fine particles into the atmosphere.
