| 15 T T Kelly Deeks Accolade for innovation Barry Prince: “Hydrogen has more than three times the energy content of petrol or diesel per kilogram...” REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Christchurch-based cryogenic and hydrogen technology company Fabrum is making waves on the global stage, taking out the Innovation & New Technology Award at the prestigious German-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce (GNZCC) Business Awards 2025/26 for its groundbreaking liquefaction technology, which is helping to power the global shift toward low-carbon transport solutions. Fabrum vice president of hydrogen Dr Barry Prince attended the awards ceremony and says the accolade is the result of years of engineering innovation and problem-solving. “We won this award for our hydrogen liquefier, which plays a critical role in enabling hydrogen as a viable alternative fuel,” Barry says. “Hydrogen has more than three times the energy content of petrol or diesel per kilogram, and its only by-product when used is water. But to make it useful for transport and industrial applications, you have to find efficient ways to store and transport it.” Fabrum’s technology addresses that challenge by cooling gaseous hydrogen to a liquid state, significantly increasing its storage density. “It’s like a fridge on steroids,” Barry says. Fabrum Solutions “The same thermodynamic principles that cool your kitchen fridge are behind our liquefiers, but we operate at temperatures as low as minus 253 degrees Celsius.” Fabrum’s liquefiers and associated storage solutions are already in use with research institutions and commercial customers globally, including a major academic customer in southwestern Germany conducting research into superconductivity and other hydrogen-related applications. Founded in 2004 by two University of Canterbury graduates, mechanical engineer Hugh Reynolds (technical director) and electrical engineer Christopher Boyle (managing director), Fabrum has built a strong reputation over the past two decades for precision engineering and cryogenic expertise. Originally focused on superconductivity and innovative technologies for power systems, the company has steadily expanded into hydrogen technologies, positioning itself at the forefront of the global energy transition. Barry says the company’s rapid growth in the hydrogen sector has been driven by increasing demand for clean energy solutions across heavy transport and aviation. “In Germany, we talked about our liquid hydrogen solutions and the role they play in making hydrogen accessible and scalable,” he says. “Our liquefiers are compact, containerised, and plug-and-play, allowing for localised liquid hydrogen production. They are accelerating the roll out of liquid-hydrogen supply to support the development of technologies for hydrogen storage and transport.” Fabrum’s current projects span across Europe, the United States, and Asia, with the company shipping its first hydrogen reliquefier system in June to a US customer where it will improve the efficiency of a hydrogen refuelling station. It’s also working closely with aerospace companies to develop next-generation composite storage tanks for liquid hydrogen-powered aircraft. Closer to home, Fabrum maintains strong partnerships with local universities nurturing engineering talent and commercialising intellectual property from research institutes. “We’re proud to be putting New Zealand innovation on the world stage,” Barry says. • Systems Design • Component sales • Preventative Maintenance programs • Engineering support • Testing and analysis • Repairs of all hydraulic components • Filtration • New Zealand wide coverage martinhydraulics.co.nz Ph 03 344 0307 Proud to support Fabrum Solutions Industrial Controls are proud to support Fabrum Solutions. Providing industrial electrical engineering & automation services INDUSTRIAL CONTROLS CHRISTCHURCH LTD LOCATION / CARLYLE STREET TELEPHONE 03 379 1182 EMAIL icch@icch.co.nz WEBSITE www.icch.co.nz POSTAL PO BOX 6520 UPPER RICCARTON Sound insurance advice for your business Connect with us 0800 276 624 | AJG.co.nz
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