Impact Coatings has launched a next generation premium fuel cell (FC) coating for heavy duty applications. The new premium FC coating offers enhanced properties and protection for anode and cathode metal plates in LT-PEM FC stacks. The coating is currently available as job coating at the company’s Coating Service Center in China.
During the last decades, focus on ways of leaving fossil fuel-based powertrains has increased. Electrical vehicles transferring hydrogen into electricity in fuel cells have become increasingly interesting for OEMs to pursue, especially for long distances and heavy-duty applications. The most common technology in this field is the LT-PEM (Low Temperature Proton-Exchange Membrane or Polymer Electrolyte Membrane) based fuel cell system. LT-PEM fuel cells rely on anode and cathode plates arranged in the fuel cell stack, plates that are either made of metal or graphite. From a production point of view metal plates are the emerging solution, thanks to the higher power density, and to lower cost, size and weight. To assure a long lifetime and efficiency in the stack’s challenging environment, a surface treatment, such as PVD coating, is necessary. During recent years heavy-duty applications have been driving an increasing demand for components that can withstand higher voltages without degradation of the protective coating. To meet this demand, Impact Coatings has developed and introduced the new premium FC coating in the group’s fuel cell coating portfolio. The coating is currently offered as job coating to best support customer needs in verification stages. Impact Coatings’ new robust premium FC coating mitigates metal ion leakage into the fuel cell stack at potentials up to 1.6 V. Leaking metal ions damage the stack membranes, reducing both stack life and performance. With the new, premium FC coating, which offers good adhesion and electrical conductivity, as well as stable and low contact resistance, the stack’s performance will be maintained throughout the stack’s lifetime.
Impact Coatings is a center of expertise and a leading provider of PVD coating solutions for metal plates in the hydrogen industry. Development of the company’s fuel cell coatings started over fifteen years ago. The company’s mid-end coating, Ceramic MAXPHASE™, for LT-PEM fuel cell plates has almost a decade of field qualification in automotive applications. Today, the company continues to work closely with customers in coating development to meet coming market demands for fuel cells, as well as for electrolyzers and the production of green hydrogen.
Impact Coatings invites investors, analysts, financial media, and other stakeholders to its Capital Markets Update on September 18, 2023. Torbjörn Sandberg Kanon (departing CEO) will together with Yaowen Wang (Regional President China), Robert Mamazza (Regional President North America), and Jonas Nilsson (incoming CEO) give an update on Impact Coatings’ recent development and strategic priorities with a focus on the emerging market for green hydrogen and coating services.
The capital market update will be held as a physical event at Inderes Studio, Västra Trädgårdsgatan 19 in Stockholm, on September 18, 12:00-13:30 CEST, and will simultaneously be streamed live. Speakers:
Registration is open on https://tv.streamfabriken.com/impact-coatings-cmu-2023/register. If you wish to attend the physical event at Inderes Studio, please register as soon as possible.
FINANCIAL RESULTS SECOND QUARTER 2023
FINANCIAL RESULTS JANUARY-JUNE 2023
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS SECOND QUARTER 2023 [4]
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS AFTER THE PERIOD [4]
[1] Metals for electrolysis are invoiced in a cost-neutral manner and do not affect operating profit.[2] Includes a provision for severance pay for the departing CEO of SEK 2,960 thousand. Adjusted operating profit SEK -6,760 thousand and SEK -15,891 thousand, respectively.[3] Currency exchange rate at period end.[4] Significant events refer to events that comprise insider information and shall be made public via press release.
CEO’s COMMENTARYStrong quarter lays the foundation for the rest of 2023
The second quarter of 2023 showed strong revenue growth, in line with the previously reported order status. Net sales for the group amounted to SEK 22,677 thousand (4,379), excluding metals for electrolysis. In comparison to the same quarter in 2022, the second quarter of the year includes a system delivery and was our strongest period to-date for Coating Services.
Coating Services achieved net sales during the period of SEK 8,599 thousand (2,362), excluding metals for electrolysis, with the primary contribution from electrolysis coatings for green hydrogen. As in the previous report, we focus on sales figures excluding the metals used for electrolysis within Coating Services, since these are invoiced cost-neutrally and do not affect operating profit.
Coating Services is expected to grow further in the long term after we, during the quarter, brought our Coating Service Center in Shanghai into full operation and in 2024 will open a Coating Service Center in the USA and move to a larger more modern facility in Linköping. These three initiatives will lead to a marked increase in capacity.
The order book for Coating Services is reported at the end of the second quarter with a value of SEK 3,250 thousand, excluding the value of metals for electrolysis. Orders within Coating Services are normally delivered over 1-4 months and the order book at the end of the quarter is a snapshot. Our large American customer, with whom we entered into a Letter of Intent in February 2023, has continued to place electrolysis coating orders for separator plates and porous transport layer plates.
In June, we received the first order for an INLINECOATER™ IC2000, our new coating system for volume production to be used for the production of fuel cell plates for the automotive industry at SEKSUN in China. Delivery of the IC2000 system is planned for 2024. The order book for coating systems amounted to SEK 36,318 thousand at the end of the period.
The increasing sales volume generated improved earnings compared to previous quarters; at the same time, we are continuing to invest in our growth strategy with the goal of becoming profitable.
We continue to deliver on our strategyThroughout the first half of 2023, we have intensified the company’s focus and investments in the hydrogen area in accordance with our strategic agenda. As specified in connection with the March 2023 rights issue, the growth journey can be summarized in four points:
1. Investments in electrolysis and green hydrogenIt is becoming increasingly clear that green hydrogen produced by electrolysis using renewable energy and water will play a central role in the future global energy mix and will be a cornerstone in the transition to sustainable energy systems with low carbon dioxide emissions.
The company’s coating technology is well-adapted to the two-dimensional metal plates found in both electrolyzers and fuel cells. Over the past year we have made significant investments in coating solutions for electrolysis and our new INLINECOATER™ IC2000 enables cost-effective coatings and production solutions that are competitive in meeting the industry’s needs.
Impact Coatings’ strong focus on hydrogen makes us unique in relation to other PVD suppliers who work broadly across many industries and applications. The focus means that today and in the future we can be at the forefront and quickly respond to customers’ needs in an industry undergoing intense development.
2. Expansion in North AmericaOur investment in North America continues. In mid-June, we completed the registration of our subsidiary in the USA. The establishment improves our capability to meet the growing demand in the North American market. We move closer to customers and facilitate contract processes, at the same time increasing market awareness of Impact Coatings.
In the wake of strong regulatory and commercial developments, North America in general and the USA in particular have established themselves as our main markets in green hydrogen electrolysis. It is a central part of our strategic agenda, with significant commercial potential. We look forward to continuing our work in the region, with a focus on establishing a Coating Service Center, planned for operation in 2024.
3. Development of Coating Service CentersToday, Coating Services is the cornerstone of our business. A great advantage lies in the fact that we even out both our cash flows and work efforts, which increases predictability. But above all, it enables customers to use our production solutions without significant investment, which lowers the threshold for an initial commitment. Our approach also creates the conditions for meeting customer demand immediately. Coating Services creates a solid platform to drive and scale up our business. Continuing to develop our existing Coating Service Centers in Linköping and Shanghai will be crucial to reaching larger sales volumes over time.
In Linköping, we increased production during the second quarter to include a second shift. At the same time, planning is underway for a move in Linköping to larger and more modern premises in the company’s new headquarters, with planned occupancy in autumn 2024.
Our new Coating Service Center in Shanghai became fully operational in the second quarter, following the installation of the center’s first coating machine, an INLINECOATER™ IC500, which arrived in April. The new facility now supplies bipolar plate coatings produced in the same region to fuel cell customers in China. The Shanghai facility will also serve as a model for future Coating Service Centers, first in the USA and later in the new facility in Linköping.
4. IndustrializationContinuing to industrialize the company will be of the utmost importance to ensure competitiveness and profitability over the long term. This includes automation, system solutions, securing components, and new facilities – activities that make it possible to reduce the relative share of costs as the business grows.
In addition, the capitalization of the company is an important part of our growth journey. It enables, in addition to investments, our ability to secure component supplies and purchase in advance central components such as machine bodies for coating systems. We tie up capital for a period of time, which is later released in connection with system sales and Coating Services.
Thank youOn September 18, Impact Coatings will host a capital markets update as a follow-up to the completed rights issue and our strategy. It will be my last investor presentation as CEO of the company. Incoming CEO Jonas Nilsson will participate and will introduce himself at the event.
I am pleased to pass the baton to Jonas Nilsson. Jonas brings solid experience in the coating industry and in technology companies in general. He has the right qualities to lead the company into its next phase. I am also proud that we have achieved so much during 2023, with the company in a stable position and with the right conditions for future growth and profitability.
I would like to thank all colleagues, customers, partners and shareholders for our collaboration during these past years.
Torbjörn Sandberg Kanon, CEO
The full report is attached, and can be retrieved on the company’s website at www.impactcoatings.com/finansiella-rapporter-arkiv/.
On September 18, 2023, Impact Coatings will host a Capital Markets Update at Inderes Studio, Västra Trädgårdsgatan 19, in Stockholm. At the event, Torbjörn Sandberg Kanon, outgoing CEO, and management representatives will present the business.
The Capital Markets Update provides an opportunity for investors, media, and other stakeholders to get an update on the strategy and development of Impact Coatings.
The event will be live streamed for those who cannot attend in person (number of seats is limited). More detailed information will be provided closer to the event. The event will start at 12:00 CEST and is estimated to finish by 13:30 CEST.
Date: September 18, 2023Time: 12:00 CESTVenue: Inderes Studio, Västra Trädgårdsgatan 19, Stockholm
If you wish to participate, please register at https://tv.streamfabriken.com/impact-coatings-cmu-2023/.
Torbjörn Joelsson has decided to leave Impact Coatings after 18 years. He is stepping down as CTO and as a member of the management team, effective August 24, 2023. Recruitment of a new CTO has begun.
“Torbjörn Joelsson has played a central role in building up Impact Coatings from a start-up to a growth company, in the development and industrialization of our INLINECOATER™ systems, including coating technology and coating processes, as well as in building long-term relationships that have generated business with several key customers. During my tenure as CEO, he has also been a driving force in refining the company’s strategy to focus on solutions for hydrogen and autonomous safety systems. I want to thank Torbjörn for his defining contributions to the company over many years,” said Torbjörn Sandberg Kanon, CEO of Impact Coatings.
Impact Coatings is moving to new headquarters in Linköping in the autumn of 2024. The new facility is under construction and situated in Kåparp, directly adjacent to Mjärdevi and Linköping Science Park, as well as Linköping University. The new two-story building will mean significantly expanded opportunities for production and development of the company’s sustainable coating solutions within PVD technology. Wilzéns Fastighetsförvaltning will own and manage the property. Groundwork has begun and construction will start in the fall.
With the new headquarters, amounting to nearly 3,000 m2, Impact Coatings doubles the production area in Linköping, together with departmentalized office spaces, conference rooms, and with the possibility of expansion over time. This means an increased capacity to deliver coating services from the company’s Swedish Coating Service Center, which also serves as a demo center for customers. It allows for greater production of industrial PVD systems for customers and for the company’s own coating operations, while offering larger development areas and a new lab for the company’s R&D department. Impact Coatings is in an expansive phase, underpinned by a rapid global development in green fossil-free hydrogen, where coating technology is needed and demanded in the area. The construction project in Linköping takes place at the same time as the company has started production in a new Coating Service Center in Shanghai, China, and plans for another establishment in the USA in 2024. “The new headquarters is an important puzzle piece in our growth journey. With a new attractive location, an advantageous logistical placement, and production-optimized workspaces in a modern environment we will be able to continue to attract the region’s best talent. At the same time, we can grow our business and streamline as well as automate our production flows. Key aspects to be able to fully support the fast-growing industries that together with us work on the next generation of energy and transportation solutions,” said Torbjörn Sandberg Kanon, CEO of Impact Coatings. “It is gratifying to carry out this project for Impact Coatings – not least considering their commitment in the green technology sector and use of sustainable production methods, which goes hand in hand with our values,” said Andreas Wilzén, CEO at Wilzéns Fastighetsförvaltning. “I would also like to commend Linköping municipality, for the fast pace and positive attitude throughout the planning process,” he continued.
The Coating Service Center set up by Impact Coatings in Shanghai has entered into operation, now supplying fuel cell customers in China with bipolar plate coatings produced in the country. The facility has an initial capacity to produce 1 million fuel cell plates annually, with the facility prepared to scale up volumes. The formal inauguration of the site will take place after the summer.
With a local coating partner specializing in hydrogen applications, Chinese fuel cell customers speed up coating qualification and production scaling. Domestic production also reduces costs, administration, and environmental impact related to international transportation of the fuel cell plates.
In April, Impact Coatings’ site in Shanghai saw arrival of its first INLINECOATER™ machine, optimized for fuel cell bipolar plate coatings. In addition to the coating line, the Coating Service Center includes a high-capacity cleaning line, quality control lab, logistics areas and office spaces – forming a complete production facility to serve customers in the region. After a run-in period of the production line and customer qualification procedures, the facility has now entered into operation.
The local organization, including a team of eleven led by Regional President Yaowen Wang, can now directly address customers’ demands in China. At the beginning of this year, several team members participated in education and training at the headquarters in Sweden. Knowledge exchange and training are key activities to eventually ramp up production, from 1-shift to multiple-shift operations. In addition, the facility offers the possibility of expanding coating machine capacity in the future.
The formal inauguration of the new Coating Service Center will take place after the summer, planned to bring customers, local officials, representatives from Swedish Consulate in Shanghai, and visitors from the Swedish headquarters together. Information of the exact date will be announced later on.
“After dedicated and intensive work, we have now started local production in China. With the facility in place and up and running we can help customers reduce risks, speed up the knowledge exchange, and respond faster to changing demands. Our presence and production capacity will be critical to meet the demands of the accelerating hydrogen market in China,” said Yaowen Wang, Regional President, China at Impact Coatings.
The board of directors of Impact Coatings has appointed Jonas Nilsson CEO effective 1 October 2023. Torbjörn Sandberg Kanon, CEO since 28 May 2018, will continue in his current role through 30 September 2023 and will remain at the company’s disposal during a Q4 2023 transition period. Jonas Nilsson is currently Investment Manager at LiU Invest in Linköping, Sweden and brings to Impact Coatings relevant experience as CEO and an active board member in growing technology companies in the semiconductor, automotive, and coatings industries.
“Torbjörn Sandberg Kanon has led the transformation of Impact Coatings into a true industrial company that demanding customers around the world rely on for high quality, innovative coating solutions. Torbjörn has introduced commercial discipline, assembled a skilled management team, and nurtured long-term customer relationships while defining the company’s strategy and delivery capabilities. The board of directors thanks Torbjörn for his contributions to the company’s long-term success,” said Mark Shay, Chairman of the Board at Impact Coatings. “The board looks forward to Jonas Nilsson continuing the company’s progress as new CEO. Jonas has a highly relevant background as an engineer, investor and company executive that will create value for all Impact Coatings stakeholders,” said Mark Shay. Jonas Nilsson, born in 1972, is currently Investment Manager at LiU Invest, which is the investment arm of Linköping University and whose purpose is to finance and develop new technology companies that emerge from the university. Through his role at LiU Invest, Jonas is currently Chairman of the Board of n-ink AB and Polar Light Technologies AB, and a board member of HPViCo AB. Jonas is also Chairman of the Board of Börslycke Gård AB and Graphensic AB, and is a board member of Entiros AB. Jonas has, among other previous roles, been CEO and later Chairman of the Board of SweGaN AB, CEO of SP Devices AB, and R&D Director at Kreatel Communications AB. Following his appointment as Impact Coatings CEO and a transition period during Q4 2023, Jonas Nilsson will retain board positions in Börslycke Gård AB and Entiros AB. Jonas Nilsson has studied applied physics and electrical engineering at Linköping University.
Impact Coatings AB (publ) has completed the registration of a subsidiary in the USA – Impact Coatings North America, LLC – to meet the growing demand in the North American market. Activities continue to expand under Regional President Robert Mamazza, with the company working toward the launch of its new Coatings Service Center, to be ready for operation during 2024.
Establishment of the US subsidiary is an important step in the company’s North American expansion and was a primary use of proceeds from the March 2023 rights issue. With the subsidiary in place, Impact Coatings strengthens its presence in the region as a whole, getting closer to current and potential customers, facilitating regulatory and contractual processes, and increasing overall awareness.
Over the last couple of years, the USA has emerged as a leader within green hydrogen. Hydrogen from renewable energy plays decisive roles in the Inflation Reduction Act that became federal law in 2022, the Energy Earth Shot initiatives from the US Department of Energy, and the June 6 announcement of a new National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap from the Biden administration. These and other initiatives create the conditions for Impact Coatings to strengthen its position in the North American market.
“The green hydrogen revolution is underway – with the USA leading the way. Over the last few years, government incentives have come into place, laying a foundation for the hydrogen industry landscape in North America. Major players in the field are forecasting significant volumes of green hydrogen production,” said Robert Mamazza, Regional President North America.
“We continue our progress in the North American market, which is a main focus of our strategic agenda. With the subsidiary in place, we are better positioned to grasp emerging opportunities in the region, building on the momentum from recent orders. It is also an important step toward the establishment of the new Coatings Service Center, ready for operation during 2024,” said Torbjörn Sandberg Kanon, CEO of Impact Coatings.
Impact Coatings has received an order for its new INLINECOATER™ IC2000 coating system for volume production of metal bipolar plates for fuel cells. The system will be delivered to SEKSUN Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., a Chinese manufacturer of high-precision metal parts for the automotive industry. The order has been placed by the distributor NET – Dalian Nuohao Lianheng Electronic Technology Co., Ltd., which has worked as a maintenance and support provider for Impact Coatings in China since 2020. Final delivery of the IC2000 system is planned for 2024. Order value is in the range EUR 2.1-2.5 million. The order and delivery are conditioned an export licence to be granted by the Swedish Inspectorate of Strategic Products (ISP).
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