Key components for the production of green hydrogen have already been manufactured at the site since March 2025. These include electrolyser stacks and phase separators, which are subsequently subjected to pressure testing and quality control. According to Andritz, production can be scaled up flexibly depending on customer demand.
Mario Voigt, Minister President of the German federal state of Thuringia, attended the opening and described the factory as “a clear signal for value creation and future security in Thuringia.” Hydrogen, he said, is not only an energy carrier, but also “a storage medium and a catalyst for industrial renewal.”
The gigafactory is located at a site with a long-standing tradition in heavy machinery manufacturing, where Andritz Schuler has been producing presses for many years. Of the 350 employees currently working in Erfurt, around 100 are expected to be involved in electrolyser production in the future. According to Andritz CEO Joachim Schönbeck, the company is now benefiting from the infrastructure and expertise in heavy machinery engineering available at the site. Erfurt’s central location in Europe also offers logistical advantages for delivering electrolysers to project sites across the continent.
The first electrolysers produced at the new factory are destined for Salzgitter AG’s 100 MW hydrogen plant, which will be used for low-carbon steel production.
The technology used in the electrolysers manufactured in Erfurt is based on developments by Andritz’s partner HydrogenPro. All products manufactured in Erfurt for green hydrogen applications are CE-certified and comply with European safety and performance standards.
