Sulzer Hexis, the venture division of the Sulzer Corporation, was awarded CE-certification of EU quality compliance per year-end 2001 by the DVGW (German Institution for Gas and Water Technology) in Bonn. This enables the marketing of "HXS 1000 Premiere" fuel cell systems throughout the European Union without the need for individual approval procedures. One of these systems has been delivered to each of the four marketing partners EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg, Karlsruhe (DE), EWE Oldenburg (DE), EWR Elektrizitätswerke Worms (DE), and an Austrian consortium comprising Energie AG Oberösterreich and Oberösterreichische Ferngas AG.

This marks the beginning of the market launch phase for Sulzer Hexis fuel cell systems, about 400 of which are to be installed between 2001 and 2003 mainly in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. A more compact and further improved mass product is planned for 2004. Delivery of the pre-production units per end of 2001 concluded as planned an international series of field trials in Switzerland, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Japan. During the course of these tests, 100 000 operating hours were accumulated in total.

Sulzer Hexis develops fuel cell systems mainly using natural gas and primarily for covering heat and power needs in private houses.

Apart from the Sulzer Hexis venture division, the Sulzer Corporation also comprises the core divisions Sulzer Metco, Sulzer Turbomachinery Services, Sulzer Pumps and Sulzer Chemtech. Within the framework of the Sulzer focusing strategy, corporate realignment is now being completed with the last planned divestiture: the sale of Sulzer Burckhardt is expected in the first half of 2002.