When Ara Partners (Ara), a private equity firm that specializes in industrial decarbonization investments, acquired Fluitron Inc. in October 2021, it made it no secret that it planned to build the Ivyland, Pennsylvania, industrial gas compressor manufacturer into a global integrated hydrogen infrastructure platform. One month later, Fluitron has acquired Bethlehem Hydrogen Inc. (BHI), a manufacturer of integrated hydrogen compression, dispensing, and storage systems.
Headquartered in Northampton, Pennsylvania, with an engineering office in Kochi, India, BHI manufactures its systems in both the United States and India and sells to customers globally.
Fluitron’s acquisition of BHI marks the first step in building a global platform of hydrogen infrastructure and refueling solutions. BHI’s experience in hydrogen compression systems complements Fluitron’s expertise in the design and manufacturing of diaphragm compressors, pressure vessels, and piston compressors. The two companies will work together to provide cost-competitive and high-quality integrated hydrogen compression, dispensing, and storage systems. BHI’s president, Tom Joseph, will serve as vice president of business development at Fluitron.
“We are delighted to welcome Tom Joseph and the exceptional team at BHI to Fluitron. The acquisition expands Fluitron’s geographic reach in the Eastern Hemisphere and strengthens its engineering and manufacturing capabilities,” said Tuan Tran, a partner at Ara Partners. “The combined Fluitron and BHI platform will lead to increased value for customers and create a ‘one-stop shop’ for hydrogen infrastructure. The transaction underscores Ara’s commitment to building market-leading companies that facilitate industrial decarbonization.
“We believe in hydrogen’s potential to decarbonize multiple industries, and Fluitron will play a key role in the energy transition,” added Tran. “Fluitron has an exceptional track record of providing high-quality compression equipment and services to its global array of customers, and its expertise in diaphragm compressors positions it to take advantage of the demand for secure, high-pressure compression needs for hydrogen dispensing and storage infrastructure.”
