The new agreement
follows an earlier, highly successful, collaboration
between the two companies established in 1992 to
develop platinum catalysts and catalysed electrodes
for Ballard Fuel Cells.
Ballard is acknowledged
as the world leader in the development and production
of Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells for
automotive and stationary power applications. It
currently has major fuel cell development programmes
with Daimler Benz, Ford and a number of other leading
motor manufacturers for automotive applications.
For stationary applications, Ballard has formed alliances
with GPU International, ALSTOM and EBARA Corporation.
Johnson Matthey is
the world's leading producer of the platinum catalysts
and catalysed electrodes at the heart of the fuel
cell.
Commenting on the
agreement, Firoz Rasul, Ballard's Chief Executive
Officer said: "Ballard and Johnson Matthey have established
a strong collaboration over the past six years. This
new agreement provides the framework to further develop
our relationship and meet the challenges of the next
decade. We expect Johnson Matthey to be Ballard's
major supplier of catalysts and catalysed products."
Neil Carson, President
of Johnson Matthey's Catalytic Systems Division,
said:
"Ballard's outstanding
progress in the development of PEM fuel cell technology
has attracted great admiration worldwide. It is now
acknowledged as the most promising new power source
for the next century. Johnson Matthey is proud to
have contributed to this progress and we look forward
to working closely with Ballard as the technology
is commercialised."
