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As part of the ARHYSTOTE project, several members of the consortium were recently welcomed to OliKrom's premises in Pessac. This visit is part of a close collaboration between the project partners, with a common goal : to design the next generation of high-pressure hydrogen storage tanks for future hydrogen combustion engine agricultural tractors.

 

From left to right: Sebastian Navarro (RAIGI), Thibaut Mignot (CETIM), Stéphane Lampériere (AGCO),
Remi TRINTA (IPC), Jean-Philippe COUVY (OLIKROM), Jean-François LETARD (OLIKROM).

ARHYSTOTE : a collaborative project promoting hydrogen in agriculture

On this occasion, OliKrom had the pleasure of welcoming a delegation representing the various areas of expertise mobilized within the ARHYSTOTE consortium, illustrating the complementary nature of the expertise brought together around the project. The visit took place in the presence of Sebastian Navarro (RAIGI), Thibaut Mignot (CETIM), Stéphane Lampériere (AGCO), and Rémi Trinta (IPC), illustrating the complementary nature of the expertise brought together for the project. They were welcomed by Jean-Philippe Couvy and Jean-François Létard, representatives of Olikrom.

This was the first time that the ARHYSTOTE delegation had visited the OliKrom site, providing an opportunity to see firsthand the results already achieved and the prospects for future development. The purpose of the visit was to review the project's progress and draw up an initial technical assessment, particularly with regard to solutions for functionalizing the reservoirs.

It was in this context that ARHYSTOTE's partners were welcomed at OliKrom, a specialist in smart pigments, to learn more about the technologies developed by the company and how they are being integrated into the project.

What is the ARHYSTOTE project ?

Led by AGCO (MASSEY FERGUSON), the ARHYSTOTE project brings together several French industrial players and technical centers to tackle a major technological challenge: developing smart hydrogen storage tanks adapted to the specific constraints of agricultural machinery.

Unlike other hydrogen applications, the agricultural sector imposes particularly high requirements. Equipment must operate in harsh environments, exposed to shocks, vibrations, dust, and extreme temperature variations. It is subject to intensive work cycles and must be integrated into mobile machinery where space, weight, and robustness are very important parameters. In addition to these constraints, there is one absolute requirement: ensuring maximum safety for users.

Supported by the France 2030 program and funded by ADEME, the ARHYSTOTE project aims to offer a storage solution that is robust, safe, and scalable, while preparing for the arrival of hydrogen-powered agricultural tractors by 2026.

Safety and trust: key issues for hydrogen

 

The development of hydrogen as an energy solution relies heavily on the reliability and trust placed in the associated technologies.

In the agricultural sector, where equipment is used on a daily basis, sometimes in isolated contexts, safety requirements are particularly high.
The smart materials developed by OliKrom are fully in line with this approach. They do not replace existing safety devices, but complement them by providing even more information that is simple, reliable, and immediately usable.

Within the framework of ARHYSTOTE, this approach helps to build confidence in hydrogen solutions and facilitate their future implementation in the field.

Learn more about the risks of hydrogen

A collaboration focused on industrialization

The visit also served as a reminder of the project's industrial ambitions. ARHYSTOTE is not limited to a technological demonstrator: it aims to lay the foundations for industrializable solutions that are compatible with the pace and requirements of mass production.

For OliKrom, this involves working on the durability of materials over time, their integration into existing manufacturing chains, and their compatibility with the materials used for hydrogen storage tanks. These issues are at the heart of the collaborative work carried out with all the consortium partners.

A key milestone in the ARHYSTOTE adventure

This visit to OliKrom marks an important milestone in the progress of the ARHYSTOTE project. It provides a concrete illustration of the rich synergies between the consortium's members and the importance of collaboration between specialists in materials, engineering, and hydrogen systems.

By welcoming partners to its premises, OliKrom reaffirms its commitment to innovation, safety, and energy transition, putting material intelligence at the service of tomorrow's technologies. The ARHYSTOTE project is now moving forward with the next phases of development, testing, and validation, with a view to producing a demonstration hydrogen tractor. This is a collective ambition, at the heart of which smart materials have a key role to play.