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Composite Cylinder Production Expands in China
UMOE Advanced Composites begins large-scale manufacturing in Jiaxing to supply hydrogen storage modules for Hiringa Sundown JV and global clean gas logistics projects.
www.uac.no
View of UMOE Advanced Composite's start-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Jiaxing, China
UMOE Advanced Composites (UAC) has started industrial production of composite cylinders at its new facility in Jiaxing, China, supporting hydrogen storage and transport applications in global energy infrastructure projects.
Context: Scaling hydrogen logistics infrastructure
The expansion of hydrogen and clean gas supply chains requires scalable, lightweight, and high-capacity storage solutions. Type IV composite cylinders are increasingly used in Multi-Element Gas Containers (MEGCs) due to their weight advantages and suitability for high-pressure gas transport.
UAC’s new manufacturing facility addresses growing demand for hydrogen logistics infrastructure across Asia-Pacific and international markets, where transport efficiency and cost competitiveness are critical for project viability.
Production capacity and manufacturing strategy
The Jiaxing facility, covering 12,000 m², represents UAC’s largest production base. It has an annual capacity of up to 20,000 composite cylinders, contributing to a broader global capacity of up to 24,000 units across operations in China and Norway.
Located in the Yangtze River Delta near Shanghai, the site is positioned within an established industrial cluster with expanding hydrogen infrastructure, including refuelling corridors supporting heavy transport and logistics operations.
Local production is intended to reduce manufacturing and logistics costs while improving supply responsiveness for regional and global customers.
Application: MEGC deployment for hydrogen projects
The first production output includes Multi-Element Gas Containers for the Hiringa Sundown Joint Venture, supporting the Good Earth Green Hydrogen and Ammonia (GEGHA) project in New South Wales, Australia.
The delivery consists of five MEGC units—two 20-foot and three 40-foot containers—designed to provide modular storage capacity for hydrogen transport and distribution. These systems support integration into logistics networks supplying industrial users and transport applications.
The same MEGC platform is also compatible with compressed natural gas (CNG), enabling flexibility across different gas transport requirements.
Technology: Composite cylinders for high-pressure storage
The cylinders are based on Type IV glass fibre composite technology, which combines a polymer liner with a composite overwrap. This design reduces weight compared to steel alternatives while maintaining structural integrity under high pressure.
Lower weight contributes to improved payload efficiency and reduced transport costs, which are key factors in scaling hydrogen distribution networks.
Operational impact and cost considerations
By combining composite technology with manufacturing in China, UAC aims to improve the economic feasibility of hydrogen projects. Reduced production and transportation costs support wider deployment of hydrogen infrastructure in regions such as Asia, the Middle East, and South America.
The approach also supports faster scaling of zero-emission applications, including mobility, shipping, and industrial processes that depend on reliable gas supply chains.
Conclusion: Supporting global hydrogen expansion
The commissioning of the Jiaxing facility marks a transition from pilot-scale supply to industrial-scale production for UAC’s composite cylinder systems. By increasing capacity and localising manufacturing, the company strengthens its ability to support the growing demand for hydrogen and clean gas storage and transport infrastructure worldwide.
Edited by an industrial journalist, Lekshman Ramdas, with AI assistance.
www.uac.com
UMOE Advanced Composites (UAC) has started industrial production of composite cylinders at its new facility in Jiaxing, China, supporting hydrogen storage and transport applications in global energy infrastructure projects.
Context: Scaling hydrogen logistics infrastructure
The expansion of hydrogen and clean gas supply chains requires scalable, lightweight, and high-capacity storage solutions. Type IV composite cylinders are increasingly used in Multi-Element Gas Containers (MEGCs) due to their weight advantages and suitability for high-pressure gas transport.
UAC’s new manufacturing facility addresses growing demand for hydrogen logistics infrastructure across Asia-Pacific and international markets, where transport efficiency and cost competitiveness are critical for project viability.
Production capacity and manufacturing strategy
The Jiaxing facility, covering 12,000 m², represents UAC’s largest production base. It has an annual capacity of up to 20,000 composite cylinders, contributing to a broader global capacity of up to 24,000 units across operations in China and Norway.
Located in the Yangtze River Delta near Shanghai, the site is positioned within an established industrial cluster with expanding hydrogen infrastructure, including refuelling corridors supporting heavy transport and logistics operations.
Local production is intended to reduce manufacturing and logistics costs while improving supply responsiveness for regional and global customers.
Application: MEGC deployment for hydrogen projects
The first production output includes Multi-Element Gas Containers for the Hiringa Sundown Joint Venture, supporting the Good Earth Green Hydrogen and Ammonia (GEGHA) project in New South Wales, Australia.
The delivery consists of five MEGC units—two 20-foot and three 40-foot containers—designed to provide modular storage capacity for hydrogen transport and distribution. These systems support integration into logistics networks supplying industrial users and transport applications.
The same MEGC platform is also compatible with compressed natural gas (CNG), enabling flexibility across different gas transport requirements.
Technology: Composite cylinders for high-pressure storage
The cylinders are based on Type IV glass fibre composite technology, which combines a polymer liner with a composite overwrap. This design reduces weight compared to steel alternatives while maintaining structural integrity under high pressure.
Lower weight contributes to improved payload efficiency and reduced transport costs, which are key factors in scaling hydrogen distribution networks.
Operational impact and cost considerations
By combining composite technology with manufacturing in China, UAC aims to improve the economic feasibility of hydrogen projects. Reduced production and transportation costs support wider deployment of hydrogen infrastructure in regions such as Asia, the Middle East, and South America.
The approach also supports faster scaling of zero-emission applications, including mobility, shipping, and industrial processes that depend on reliable gas supply chains.
Conclusion: Supporting global hydrogen expansion
The commissioning of the Jiaxing facility marks a transition from pilot-scale supply to industrial-scale production for UAC’s composite cylinder systems. By increasing capacity and localising manufacturing, the company strengthens its ability to support the growing demand for hydrogen and clean gas storage and transport infrastructure worldwide.
Edited by an industrial journalist, Lekshman Ramdas, with AI assistance.
www.uac.com
