MAHLE Selects St. Michael ob Bleiburg Plant for Series Production of Fuel Cell Humidifiers Starting in 2029

The MAHLE plant in St. Michael will become the production site for a key fuel cell technology.

(IN BRIEF) MAHLE has selected its St. Michael ob Bleiburg plant in Austria for the series production of humidifiers for fuel cell vehicles, with production scheduled to begin in 2029. The project includes major investments in employee training, automation, and modernization of production infrastructure. Chosen for its strong process expertise, the site will manufacture key humidifier components entirely in-house, including the stacker and high-temperature injection-molded parts. The decision reinforces MAHLE’s commitment to hydrogen technologies, strengthens the Carinthian location, and supports the company’s long-term strategy for sustainable, future-oriented mobility.

(PRESS RELEASE) STUTTGART, 16-Jan-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — MAHLE has assigned a new series-production project to its plant in St. Michael ob Bleiburg, Austria, marking a significant step in the company’s expansion of hydrogen technologies for future mobility. Starting in 2029, the Carinthian site will manufacture humidifiers for fuel cell vehicles, a key component that plays a central role in optimizing air management, improving system efficiency, and extending the service life of hydrogen-based powertrains.

To support the introduction of the new product, MAHLE is planning extensive investments at the St. Michael facility. These include comprehensive employee qualification programs, the installation of new automated production lines, and the modernization of infrastructure and manufacturing technology within the site’s historic production halls. The preparations will begin in the coming months to ensure the plant is fully equipped for series production.

The decision to locate production in St. Michael was driven by the site’s strong process expertise, particularly in welding, adhesive bonding, injection molding, and media technology. Over the years, the plant has repeatedly demonstrated its capability to industrialize complex technologies and bring new products into series production. MAHLE sees the current investment as a deliberate step to further develop employee skills and establish a highly specialized expert team for hydrogen technologies.

Manufacturing at the St. Michael plant will cover the entire humidifier production process. The core component, known as the stacker, will be produced on site by layering and bonding individual elements to form a multi-layer structure that precisely regulates air humidity and airflow in fuel cell systems. Subsequent steps include frame assembly, leak testing, pre-assembly, and final assembly, ensuring a fully integrated and controlled production process.

All injection-molded components required for the humidifier will also be produced at the St. Michael location. For the first time, the plant will apply high-temperature injection molding technology, enabling the use of high-performance plastics that offer exceptional heat resistance, dimensional stability, and chemical durability. This technological upgrade further strengthens the site’s role within MAHLE’s global manufacturing network.

MAHLE has operated the St. Michael ob Bleiburg plant since 1999, and the facility currently employs around 1,300 people. It is one of MAHLE’s leading locations for thermal management and filter systems and plays a key role in workforce development through its in-house apprenticeship academy, making it one of the largest training employers in Lower Carinthia. With the new fuel cell humidifier project, the site is set to become an important pillar in MAHLE’s hydrogen strategy and long-term vision for sustainable mobility.

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Elena Barth
Press Officer
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SOURCE: MAHLE