UMOE Advanced Composites (UAC) has completed the manufacture and shipment of five multi-element gas containers (MEGCs) from its Jiaxing facility in China to the Hiringa Sundown joint venture in Australia. Announced on November 2, 2026, the delivery marks the company's first international commercial shipment from China and introduces its first Type IV glass-fibre pressure cylinders manufactured at the facility.
The shipment comprises two 20-foot and three 40-foot MEGCs destined for the Good Earth Green Hydrogen and Ammonia (GEGHA) Project in New South Wales. Developed by Hiringa Energy and Sundown Pastoral Company, the project will use green hydrogen and low-carbon ammonia to support decarbonization across agriculture and transport. It receives funding through the New South Wales Government's Hydrogen Hub Initiative.
The MEGCs incorporate UAC's Type IV high-pressure technology, which uses lightweight glass-fibre composite pressure cylinders for gas storage and transportation. The company's 40-foot MEGCs can carry up to 720 kg of hydrogen, allowing higher payloads per journey and helping reduce transportation costs. The technology is designed to provide a cost-effective solution for high-pressure gas logistics.
The shipment also represents a commercial milestone for UAC's dual-manufacturing strategy, which combines its established Norwegian engineering and technology base with production capacity in China. The 12,000-square-metre Jiaxing facility has the potential to manufacture up to 20,000 composite cylinders annually. UAC has more than two decades of experience in Type IV glass-fibre technology, with over 12,000 cylinders operating across more than 40 countries.
“This shipment to Australia is an important milestone in UAC’s global strategy. The investment in Jiaxing was not just about increasing capacity, but about building a manufacturing platform that combines our established Norwegian technology with China’s manufacturing scale and supply-chain strengths. This gives UAC greater flexibility, a more competitive cost base and a stronger global footprint as we expand internationally. The Hiringa shipment demonstrates that our dual-manufacturing strategy is now translating into commercial delivery for international customers,” said Lars Erik Lunøe, CEO of UMOE Advanced Composites.
The Australian delivery builds on UAC's existing relationship with Hiringa Energy. The company previously supplied Type IV MEGCs manufactured in Norway for Hiringa Energy's first four operating hydrogen refuelling stations in New Zealand.
“Reliable, cost-effective storage and transport are critical to making hydrogen projects work at scale. We have already seen UAC’s MEGCs perform in our New Zealand hydrogen refuelling network, and this delivery builds on that experience as we develop the GEGHA project in Australia. Having access to proven Type IV technology together with increased manufacturing capacity in Asia gives us greater flexibility as we scale hydrogen infrastructure in the region,” said Alistair Tippett, Head of Projects & Engineering at Hiringa Energy.
The GEGHA project is designed to produce up to 4,500 tonnes of low-carbon ammonia annually, with UAC's MEGCs forming part of its hydrogen storage and logistics infrastructure. The shipment also marks a step in the certification process for UAC's Type IV high-pressure glass-fibre cylinders for China's domestic market.
Source: UMOE | News
