Dr. Bernd Schrittesser - THE expert for hydrogen safety and materials testing
“Safety in hydrogen starts with tested materials. Only clear data creates confidence in a sustainable future.”
Dr. Bernd Schrittesser is Managing Director of SCIOFLEX Hydrogen and is a proven expert in hydrogen safety, materials testing and materials technology under high-pressure conditions. After studying plastics engineering at the University of Leoben, he specialized in the processing and physical evaluation of materials for extreme requirements - a key aspect in the safe use of hydrogen as an energy carrier.
He worked at the renowned Polymer Competence Center Leoben for more than eleven years, most recently as Head of Elastomer Technology and Process Optimization. His scientific work, in particular on high-pressure hydrogen applications up to several 1,000 bar, is internationally recognized and highly rated scientifically with an h-index of 18.
As a sought-after speaker and specialist author, Dr. Schrittesser shares his knowledge at conferences and in specialist publications. He has been contributing his expertise to SCIOFLEX Hydrogen since 2023 - with the aim of enabling sustainable energy solutions through innovative research and practice-oriented management.
Dr. Harald Gschiel - Expert for SOFC & powder metallurgy
Dr. Harald Gschiel is a proven specialist in powder metallurgy, material characterization and high-temperature fuel cells (SOFC - Solid Oxide Fuel Cells). After studying technical chemistry at the Vienna University of Technology, he devoted his dissertation to the characterization of innovative SOFC materials.
He gained his industrial experience at voestalpine Böhler Edelstahl, where he worked as team leader for alloy development and additive manufacturing. His expertise in materials technology and process development makes him an important source of know-how for the hydrogen economy.
Dr. Winoj Balasooriya - Specialist for elastomers & hydrogen aging
Dr. Winoj Balasooriya is an expert in elastomer behavior, fracture mechanics and the ageing of materials under the influence of hydrogen. He studied plastics engineering at the University of Leoben and worked at the Polymer Competence Center Leoben from 2014. He has been contributing his expertise to developments at SCIOFLEX Hydrogen since 2024.
With over 50 scientific publications, more than 300 citations and an h-index of 10, he is one of the leading minds in the field of hydrogen compatibility of elastomeric materials. His research results are included in international conferences and specialist journals.
Andrea Eder - Specialist engineer for plastics technology & hydrogen embrittlement
Andrea Eder is a mechanical engineer specializing in plastics technology. Since graduating in 2020, she has been working on damage analysis, materials testing (including destructive testing methods) and microscopic analysis methods.
Until 2023, she worked at the Polymer Competence Center Leoben, where she dealt with elastomer chemistry, material development and simulation techniques. She joined the SCIOFLEX Hydrogen team in 2024. Her focus is on the investigation of hydrogen embrittlement, a key factor for safe and durable hydrogen systems.