KnitMesh and GKD Partnered on Electrolyser Components
The partnership combines knitted and woven metallic structures to improve current density in hydrogen production by October 2026.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Materials Science
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KnitMesh Technologies and GKD formed a partnership in March 2025 to supply integrated metallic structures for hydrogen electrolysers. This collaboration leverages knitted wire mesh technology to enhance the efficiency of electrolysis components.
Why it matters
The partnership aims to simplify the electrolyser supply chain while meeting growing demand for high-performance hydrogen production components in Asian markets. This integration reflects a shift toward scaling specialized metallic structures for industrial electrolysis systems.
Testing by the German Aerospace Center recorded a 33% increase in current density using KnitMesh porous transport layers compared to standard configurations. The company produces these components using nickel, titanium, and stainless steel at widths reaching four metres.
The players
KnitMesh Technologies
A manufacturer specializing in knitted wire mesh products for filtration, separation, and electrochemical applications.
GKD
A developer of technical woven metal fabrics and filter media used in industrial separation and process engineering.
German Aerospace Center
A national research organization that provides verification testing for aerospace and energy-related engineering components.
The details
The technology functions as an engineered metallic spring, where knitted wire mesh deforms under compression to maintain consistent contact within the electrolysis cell. KnitMesh developed a welding process to join these meshes directly to metal plates, which lowers electrical contact resistance. The partnership provides these elements as an integrated package, combining the knitted structures with bipolar plates to form complete electrolysis cells.
Timeline
1957: KnitMesh began developing its underlying wire technology.
March 2025: The companies announced their strategic partnership.
October 20-22, 2026: Companies will exhibit their technology at the Hydrogen Technology World Expo in Hamburg.
The Tech Race
This partnership follows the validation benchmarks set by the German Aerospace Center's single-cell testing. It marks a move to translate research-grade efficiency gains into an integrated, commercially available supply chain for industrial hydrogen electrolysers.
The partnership focuses on industrial-scale supply chains, meaning the impact will manifest primarily in the availability of more efficient electrolyser components for green hydrogen projects. Customers can expect to see these integrated packages at the Hydrogen Technology World Expo in late 2026.
The takeaway
The alliance represents an attempt to scale high-density electrolysis components through integrated manufacturing. Watch the Hydrogen Technology World Expo in Hamburg this October 2026 for the first public demonstration of these combined metallic structures.
Further reading
For broader context on current engineering advances in this field, explore our Materials Science section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Innovation in Textiles.
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