Kolon Group participated in the World Hydrogen Expo 2025 (WHE 2025), held at KINTEX from December 4 to December 7, showcasing advanced technologies and solutions spanning the entire hydrogen industry, from production to storage and utilization.
WHE 2025 integrates the hydrogen industry exhibition H2 MEET, which began in 2020, with an international hydrogen conference. As a core player in Korea’s hydrogen industry, Kolon Group has participated in the exhibition every year since the inaugural H2 MEET. Once again, affiliates including Kolon Industries, Kolon ENP, and Kolon Spaceworks drew strong attention from visitors by showcasing their distinctive technological capabilities.
Kolon Industries introduced advanced hydrogen technology components and materials, including water management devices, polymer electrolyte membranes (PEM), and membrane electrode assemblies (MEA), which form the core of hydrogen mobility systems.
The water management devices on display included products applied to Hyundai Motor’s The All-New NEXO, as well as solutions for emergency power generation, ships, and trains. Kolon Industries has supplied water management devices to Hyundai Motor since 2013 and currently sells products for various applications under its proprietary brand “Ecomate” in markets including North America, China, and Europe. In particular, its fuel cell water management devices reportedly account for more than 50 percent of the global market share.
Kolon Industries has also independently developed polymer electrolyte membranes (PEM) and membrane electrode assemblies (MEA), which generate electrical energy and heat by facilitating the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen within fuel cell stacks. The company emphasizes durability and other performance advantages as key competitive strengths of these materials.
Looking ahead, Kolon Industries plans to improve water electrolysis materials technologies and expand into materials for green hydrogen production. It has also begun developing hydrocarbon-based PEMs in response to PFAS regulations, seeking to advance commercialization in the water electrolysis sector proactively.
Kolon ENP displayed core material solutions for hydrogen vehicles, including materials for silencer housings, heater housings, membrane humidifier housings, and ion filter housings. These high-performance material solutions address the specific requirements of hydrogen vehicles by enhancing dimensional stability, reducing ion elution, and reducing gas emissions, while ensuring durability and reliability even under extreme operating conditions. Through these materials, Kolon ENP demonstrated integrated material technologies that enhance the efficiency and quality of hydrogen electric vehicle systems.
Kolon Spaceworks exhibited its independently developed carbon fiber intermediate material Towpreg, along with hydrogen fuel tanks. These products offer excellent lightweight characteristics and durability, making them suitable for applications across automobiles, ships, missile combustion chambers, and space launch vehicles. In particular, the 54-liter hydrogen fuel tank obtained UN ECE R134 certification, verifying the safety of the hydrogen storage system.
Beyond supplying individual components, Kolon Spaceworks has expanded its hydrogen storage solutions business by developing complete hydrogen storage system modules for global automakers. The company highlighted its technological capabilities by internalizing the entire manufacturing value chain, from intermediate material development to component molding and system module production, through Kolon Group’s proprietary technologies.
A Kolon Group representative said, “Based on world-class technological capabilities, Kolon Group has supplied core components and materials to various hydrogen industries, including hydrogen mobility and water electrolysis,” adding, “We will continue developing diverse products as a leading company driving the hydrogen economy.”
Meanwhile, the World Hydrogen Expo 2025 brings together hydrogen companies from around the world to showcase the latest technologies and trends and create opportunities for global collaboration. Starting this year, the Hydrogen International Conference and the hydrogen industry exhibition H2 MEET have integrated into a single event combining exhibitions and conferences. Covering the entire hydrogen value chain from production to storage, transportation, and utilization, the expo has established itself as a global hub for sharing innovative technologies and market strategies.
