TECHNOLOGY IN ACTION - ADVERTORIAL
Hydrogen leader joins Luxfer Gas Cylinders in new role driving growth across alternative fuels
A hydrogen expert with more than two decades of experience in renewables and decarbonisation has joined Luxfer Gas Cylinders as its new Business Director of Alternative Fuels. Steve Jones has stepped into the newly created commercial position with ambitions to grow Luxfer’s contribution to mobility projects and bulk gas transport applications across Europe. Charting a career path that has dovetailed with the rise of hydrogen technology, he explains: “Straight out of university I worked in this sector, when hydrogen was in its infancy. Back then, it was all about proving the technology worked—mostly through prototypes and demonstration projects.
“The biggest shift over the past 20 years is that hydrogen has now gained real-world acceptance. The next challenge is to prove the long-term business case and overcome the commercial barriers to adoption.”
Steve will head up a team of 15 alternative fuel and commercial specialists at Luxfer Gas Cylinders’ UK site, home to a multi-million-pound production facility for the company’s latest innovation—the G-Stor®Hydrosphere. The site also supports the design and manufacture of hydrogen and CNG-powered solutions for buses, HGVs, rail, and marine applications.
“During my tenure in the hydrogen sector I have witnessed countless companies come and go”, he adds. “Luxfer holds a unique position because it combines agility and innovation with a robust track record and unrivalled reputation within the gas industry. Being part of a listed global company is important too, because it means we can help organisations with flexible agreements that make operating a valuable asset - such as the G-Stor®Hydrosphere – more accessible.”
Steve’s connection to Luxfer Gas Cylinders spans key milestones in his career and crosses continents. He was a former customer of Luxfer Gas Cylinders, later a partner through his role as director of the California Hydrogen Business Council, and he led the development of a hydrogen refuelling station in Riverside, California, near the Luxfer Gas Cylinders U.S site.
With a career that has consistently intersected with Luxfer’s operations, Steve now steps into his new role with a clear sense of purpose for what lies ahead. “Luxfer is proven as a stable partner for its customers and has delivered engineering excellence for more than 80 years,” he says. “With our bulk gas transport units and broad portfolio of alternative fuel products, we’re well-positioned to help organisations meet their decarbonisation goals. Across the business, we’re preparing our teams to meet that future demand, and that’s incredibly exciting.”
Steve’s passion for hydrogen solutions was sparked during his engineering degree at the University of Birmingham, now recognised as a world-leading institute in hydrogen research and development. Away from professional commitments, Steve is a keen golfer and father of two. Following in his engineering footsteps, Steve’s eldest son recently joined the JCB Academy in Uttoxeter, which has invested heavily in hydrogen power.
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www.luxfercylinders.com
Rockwell Automation Selected by Utility Global to Automate Its Economic Clean Hydrogen Production Systems
“Rockwell’s automation technology accelerates our ability to execute commercial deployments,” said Parker Meeks, President and CEO of Utility. “Their proven industrial expertise strengthens our mission to deliver economic clean hydrogen to the hard-to- abate sectors. The first application of Rockwell’s automation technology is in the
start-up of our Houston commercial unit, which is now being commissioned. This unit will then be deployed into biogas applications in 2026.”
Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, has been selected by Utility Global to provide the control and automation platform for its proprietary H2Gen® systems featuring Utility’s patented zero-electricity hydrogen production technology. Utility is transforming industrial hydrogen production with systems designed for modular construction, customized performance, and seamless integration into existing assets and infrastructure. Featuring a breakthrough technology for hydrogen production from water without electricity that operates autonomously, H2Gen systems deliver clean, reliable hydrogen tailored to the steel, mobility, chemical, refining and oil and gas industries. These systems significantly reduce carbon emissions and lower operational and capital costs. This innovation makes the energy transition economically viable for industrial operators worldwide.
36 ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Autumn 2025
To support this objective, Utility selected Rockwell’s PlantPAx® Distributed Control System along with a suite of software and network hardware including FactoryTalk® View, FactoryTalk® AssetCentre, FactoryTalk® Historian and Logix Process Controllers. This suite was selected for its ability to scale from small to large commercial deployments without requiring a shift in control architecture – laying the groundwork for flexible project execution plans.
“We’re excited to work with Utility Global to support their innovative approach to sustainable hydrogen production,” said Michael Sweet, director, New Energy, Rockwell Automation. “Our integrated control and information platform helps bring new energy technologies to life with the security, reliability and flexibility needed for industrial applications. Rockwell’s integrated solutions are enabling near-term decarbonization by accelerating the deployment of scalable, low-carbon energy solutions like Utility’s H2Gen systems.”
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www.rockwellautomation.com
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