China's First Type IV Hydrogen Cylinder MEGC Rolls Off Production Line in Shijiazhuang, CIMC Hexagon Leads Localisation of High-Pressure Hydrogen Storage Equipment

In January 2026, CIMC Enric and Hexagon Purus's joint venture, CIMC Hexagon (Hebei) Co., Ltd., announced in Shijiazhuang the successful rollout of China's first 20-foot Type IV hydrogen cylinder MEGC. This achievement filled a gap in domestic technology, marking a new milestone in the localisation of China's high-pressure hydrogen storage and transportation equipment and laying the foundation for domestic equipment to compete globally.

This benchmark product adopted a Type IV fully composite gas cylinder design with a "non-metallic liner + composite material layer," balancing lightweight properties and pressure stability. It achieved a working pressure of 38 MPa, with a hydrogen storage capacity exceeding 1 mt per 40-foot standard container. Compared to traditional methods, it delivered dual improvements in hydrogen storage capacity and transportation efficiency, reaching internationally leading performance levels.

The product complied with international standards such as ADR and TPED, had obtained EU certification, and achieved batch deliveries to Europe. It was adaptable to multimodal transport scenarios involving road, rail, and water, meeting medium- to long-distance, large-scale hydrogen demand. Its modular design supported multi-specification combinations, optimized the entire life cycle cost, and provided an efficient and safe storage and transportation solution.

The technological breakthrough stemmed from deep collaboration between the shareholders: leveraging Hexagon Purus's hydrogen storage technology experience and global application validation, combined with CIMC Enric's entire industry chain layout in hydrogen energy and manufacturing expertise, enabling full-process technological control. The Hebei factory (the largest Type IV cylinder production site in Asia) provided a solid foundation for mass production.

The market adoption followed a dual-track strategy of "overseas first, then domestic": initially relying on both parties' channels to expand the overseas market, with the first batch already delivered to Europe; simultaneously advancing R&D, certification, and domestic licensing applications for the full product series, participating in the development of domestic storage and transportation standards, promoting compliant product application, and supporting the "dual carbon" goals.