What PDC Machines does

PDC Machines, founded in 1977 and headquartered in Souderton, Pennsylvania, designs and manufactures high-pressure diaphragm gas compressors and complete hydrogen refueling station equipment. The company's core technology is a proprietary triple-diaphragm construction — three-plate set (upper process side, middle brass, lower hydraulic side) — that completely isolates process gas from hydraulic oil, enabling leak-tight, contamination-free compression for critical and high-purity gas applications compliant with API 618 standards. The product portfolio spans four compressor models (PDC-3, PDC-4, PDC-7, PDC-13) ranging from 3hp to 200hp with pressures up to 20,000 psig, plus gas-specific variants for argon, helium, nitrogen, and hydrogen, and the SimpleFuel™ line of all-in-one hydrogen generation, compression, storage, and dispensing systems developed in partnership with IVYS Energy Solutions.

PDC generates revenue primarily through direct hardware sales of compressor units and hydrogen compression systems to industrial gas companies, hydrogen refueling station developers, semiconductor manufacturers, specialty gas producers, and government agencies. Sales follow a custom "Request a Quote" model with regional sales directors covering the Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific, supplemented by channel partnerships — KPCL in India, ENGV in Australia, and IVYS Energy Solutions for SimpleFuel globally. The company supplements hardware revenue with aftermarket service, spare parts, preventative maintenance kits, and field support. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; quotes are project-specific based on gas type, pressure, flow capacity, configuration, and geography.

Since 2010, PDC has delivered more than 2,000 compressors to 600+ customers across 56 countries and 6 continents, including flagship deployments for the U.S. Department of Energy, the Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Olympics, CSIRO's Victorian Hydrogen Hub, UT Austin's H2 ProtoHub, and the Philadelphia Eagles' Lincoln Financial Field. The company operates manufacturing facilities in Warminster, PA and Souderton, PA (the latter opened in 2022 as a major capacity expansion), with regional sales/technical offices in China (2015), South Korea (2017), Japan as PDC GK (2019), and Germany as PDC Machines GmbH (2020). PDC has been privately held since a 2021 recapitalization by Arcline Investment Management and is led by CEO Bree McQuillan, who joined with 20 years of global manufacturing experience, with founder-family member Kareem Afzal serving as Executive Chairman.

Name

PDC Machines

Legal name

PDC Machines LLC

Website

https://pdcmachines.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

PDC Machines designs and manufactures high-pressure diaphragm gas compressors and turnkey hydrogen refueling station equipment for industrial gas companies, hydrogen energy developers, semiconductor manufacturers, and government agencies across 56 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Gas Compressors

NAICS

Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing (333912), Pump and Compressor Manufacturing (33391)

SIC

Oil & Gas Field Machinery & Equipment (3533), Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590)

akta.pro primary industry

Process Gas & High-Pressure Compressors (IMAHANAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Air & Gas Compressors (General Purpose) (IMAHANAE), Pump & Compressor Packages (Skids, Booster Sets) (IMAHANAG), Hydrogen Storage & Compression Terminals (TLAGAKAH)

Keywords

• Diaphragm gas compressors
• Hydrogen compression systems
• Hydrogen refueling stations
• High-pressure gas compression
• Specialty gas equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Warminster

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Diaphragm Gas Compressors (Industrial Systems): Sale of diaphragm compressor units ranging from bare-block cores to fully instrumented turnkey compressor systems. Compressors are sold in PDC-3, PDC-4, PDC-7, and PDC-13 models with varying horsepower (3hp to 200hp), pressure ratings (up to 20,000 psig), and flow capacities (up to 2,000 Nm3/hr). Configurations include single-stage, two-stage, and duplex. Revenue is generated through direct sales to industrial gas companies, chemical plants, semiconductor manufacturers, and specialty gas producers worldwide.
2. Hydrogen Compression Systems for Hydrogen Refueling Stations (HRS): Supply of hydrogen compression systems as key components for hydrogen refueling station manufacturers and hydrogen station developers. PDC serves as the #1 supplier of hydrogen compressors globally with over 1,000 compressor installations worldwide. Systems are sold as standalone compression modules or as part of turnkey hydrogen station packages.
3. SimpleFuel Hydrogen Refueling Station (Complete Turnkey System): Sale of complete SimpleFuel hydrogen refueling systems — all-in-one units combining electrolyzer-based hydrogen production, PDC diaphragm compression, cascade storage, chilling for fast fills, 700 bar dispensing, controls, and safety systems. SimpleFuel is developed in partnership with IVYS Energy Solutions and distributed globally including through partnerships in Japan, Australia, and the US.
4. Aftermarket Service, Spare Parts, and Maintenance: Annual preventative maintenance kits, spare parts (diaphragms, O-rings, check valves, hydraulic components, filters, tubing), and field service including commissioning, startup support, training, and emergency repairs. PDC maintains a comprehensive spare parts inventory and offers both on-site and remote technical support globally.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

PDC Machines designs and manufactures high-pressure diaphragm gas compressors (PDC-3, PDC-4, PDC-7, PDC-13 models ranging from 3hp to 200hp and up to 20,000 psig) and complete hydrogen refueling systems, including the SimpleFuel all-in-one hydrogen generation, compression, storage, and dispensing appliance. The company sells hardware, turnkey hydrogen refueling stations, and aftermarket service and spare parts to industrial gas producers, hydrogen station developers, and government/research customers worldwide.

Product overview

PDC Machines is a manufacturer of diaphragm compression solutions, offering a portfolio of compressor products and hydrogen fueling systems. The core product line includes industrial diaphragm compressors (PDC-3, PDC-4, PDC-7, PDC-13) for leak-tight, contamination-free gas compression across industrial and specialty gas applications. The hydrogen energy portfolio includes high-pressure hydrogen compressors for refueling stations, the SimpleFuel™ and SimpleFuel™ Fast all-in-one hydrogen generation and dispensing systems, and complete turnkey Hydrogen Refueling Stations (HRS). Specialized variants serve argon, helium, and nitrogen compression markets. The company also provides comprehensive service and support, maintenance kits, and spare parts. With over 2,000 compressors delivered to 56 countries since 2010, PDC positions itself as the industry leader in diaphragm compression installations for hydrogen and industrial gas applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SimpleFuel™: Small footprint hydrogen refueling station for home or commercial use. All-in-one hydrogen generation, compression, storage, and dispensing system that produces 20 kg/day of high-purity, fuel cell-grade hydrogen using water and electricity. Joint development between PDC Machines and IVYS Energy Solutions.

Products and services

• Diaphragm Compressors (PDC-3, PDC-4, PDC-7, PDC-13) Triple-layer, oil-free, leak-tight diaphragm gas compressors in API 618-compliant configurations (PDC-3 up to 15 HP/15,000 psig; PDC-4 up to 50 HP/20,000 psig; PDC-7 up to 75 HP/9,000 psig; PDC-13 up to 150 HP) for industrial and specialty gas compression. Targets industrial gas producers, specialty gas distributors, and chemical/semiconductor customers needing contamination-free, high-purity compression.
• Hydrogen Compressors High-pressure hydrogen diaphragm compressors designed for hydrogen refueling stations, capable of compressing hydrogen up to 15,000 psig (1,034 barg) with the PDC-4 series handling up to 20,000 psig (1,379 barg). Supports 5,000 psig/350 barg and 10,000 psig/700 barg commercial hydrogen fueling, as well as 13,000 psig/900 barg and 15,000 psig/1,000 barg for specialized applications. Built-in fast-acting diaphragm leak detection and automatic shutdown. Sold to hydrogen refueling station manufacturers, transit authorities, and fleet operators.
• SimpleFuel™ Hydrogen Generation and Dispensing System All-in-one onsite hydrogen generation, compression, storage, and dispensing system using water and electricity to produce 20 kg/day of high-purity, fuel cell-grade hydrogen. Converts approximately 3.8 gallons of filtered water into hydrogen fuel sufficient for one hydrogen-powered vehicle to travel over 360 miles, and supports dispensing up to 700 bar. Sold to station developers, government agencies, and fleet operators.
• SimpleFuel™ Fast Hydrogen Refueling Station Faster-dispensing variant of SimpleFuel deployed for retail and hub-style refueling. Delivered units include 20 kg/day production through PEM electrolysis, compression, cascade storage up to 1,000 bar, chilling for fast fills, 700 bar dispensing, controls, safeties, and factory certification. Sold to research hubs, transit agencies, and station developers in Australia, the U.S., and other markets.
• Hydrogen Refueling Stations (HRS) Turnkey hydrogen refueling stations including compression, storage, chilling, dispensing, safety controls, and factory certification. Capacities range from 20 kg to over 2,500 kg/day with discharge pressures up to 15,000 psig for bus, truck, and material handling vehicle fueling applications. Sold to transit authorities, fleet operators, and station developers.
• Argon Compressors Diaphragm compressors purpose-built for argon gas compression serving welding, lighting, laboratory, electronics, medical, metallurgy, food and beverage, and geochronology applications. Two-stage argon models can boost pressure from 500 psig/34 barg to 6,500 psig/488 barg. Sold to specialty gas distributors and industrial gas customers.
• Helium Compressors Oil-free diaphragm compressors for high-purity helium compression serving healthcare MRI, aerospace, electronics semiconductor manufacturing, fiber optics, energy sector, and leak detection. Discharge pressures up to 15,000 psig (1,000 barg) with typical flow rates to 320 scfm (500 Nm3/Hr). Sold to specialty gas distributors, healthcare, and electronics manufacturers.
• Nitrogen Compressors Diaphragm compressors for nitrogen gas compression serving food packaging, aerospace, electronics manufacturing, metal fabrication, pharmaceuticals, glass manufacturing, chemical/petrochemical, automotive, and oil and gas exploration. Discharge pressures up to 15,000 psig (1,000 barg). Sold to industrial gas distributors and industrial customers.
• Service and Support Global service network including startup and commissioning, routine operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, preventative maintenance kits, spare parts inventory (diaphragms, O-rings, check valves, hydraulic components, filters, tubing), operational training, and equipment upgrades. Sold as annual maintenance contracts, on-site field service, and emergency repairs to industrial gas producers, hydrogen station operators, and fleet customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 hydrogen diaphragm compressors installed worldwide
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• GTI Energy and UT Austin H2 ProtoHub (Center for Electromechanics)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 March 2026PDC Machines provided two SimpleFuel units for the Hydrogen ProtoHub at UT Austin's J.J. Pickle Research Campus. The ProtoHub received the 2026 Robert Zalosh Hydrogen Safety Excellence Award from the Center for Hydrogen Safety. The facility operates as a fully integrated hydrogen system with on-site generation, storage, distribution, and multiple end-use applications, serving as a real-world proving ground for hydrogen technologies.
• Kirloskar Pneumatic Company Limited (KPCL)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 6 May 2024PDC Machines entered into an agreement with KPCL, a prominent Indian air, refrigeration, and gas compression company, to offer diaphragm compressors for various industries and applications throughout India. The partnership was executed in response to emerging hydrogen compression opportunities in India, where government investment in green hydrogen is expected to continue through the rest of the decade. KPCL provides local market access, customer relationships, and service capabilities for the Indian hydrogen market.
• Philadelphia EaglesflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 September 2023PDC Machines entered a sustainability partnership with the Philadelphia Eagles to equip Lincoln Financial Field with green hydrogen energy through a SimpleFuel unit. The stadium's 'Go Green' initiative uses water and solar power to produce clean hydrogen for fuel cell vehicles and material handling equipment. The partnership received significant regional media coverage and a congratulatory letter from U.S. Senator Bob Mensch.
• IVYS Energy SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 August 2021PDC Machines and IVYS Energy Solutions jointly design and manufacture SimpleFuel, an all-in-one hydrogen generation, compression, storage, and dispensing solution. PDC provides the diaphragm compression technology while IVYS provides the electrolyzer and overall system integration. SimpleFuel won the $1 million H2 Refuel H-Prize Competition. The partnership has deployed units globally, including at DOE facilities, the Philadelphia Eagles stadium, and international markets.
• ENGV (Australia)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 25 August 2021PDC Machines and IVYS Energy Solutions collaborate with Australian partner ENGV to deliver SimpleFuelFast stations in Australia. ENGV provides local integration, installation, and ongoing operational services. ENGV has delivered three hydrogen refueling stations in Australia in partnership with PDC and IVYS, including the first retail hydrogen station in Australia and a station at CSIRO's Victorian Hydrogen Hub in Melbourne.
• CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) / Victorian Hydrogen HubflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 August 2021PDC Machines and IVYS Energy Solutions collaborated with CSIRO's Victorian Hydrogen Hub in Melbourne to deliver a SimpleFuelFast station. The station includes 20 kg/day production through PEM electrolysis, compression, cascade storage up to 1,000 bar, 700 bar dispensing, controls, safeties, and factory certification. This is a key milestone for CSIRO's Hydrogen Industry Mission supporting Australia's clean hydrogen industry development.
• U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Hyundai Motor CompanyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 February 2020PDC Machines and IVYS Energy Solutions partnered with the U.S. DOE and Hyundai Motor Company to deploy a SimpleFuel hydrogen refueling appliance in the Washington, D.C. area. Hyundai provided five Hyundai NEXO fuel cell vehicles to DOE and national laboratories for real-world performance assessment. The project provides data for DOE research and development on hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Burckhardt Compression: Swiss-headquartered manufacturer of reciprocating and diaphragm compressors serving industrial gases and hydrogen. Most direct peer to PDC in diaphragm compression technology and end markets (oil & gas, industrial gas, hydrogen).
• Howden: Global provider of mission-critical air and gas handling equipment including reciprocating and diaphragm compressors. Direct competitor to PDC in hydrogen compression and industrial gas compression markets.
• Nel ASA: Norwegian hydrogen company producing electrolyzers and hydrogen refueling stations. Competes directly with PDC's SimpleFuel offering as a turnkey hydrogen refueling station provider for the same fleet and government customers.
• Hydro Inc. (Hydro-Pac): U.S.-based manufacturer of high-pressure gas compressors, pumps and gas boosters — overlap with PDC in oil-free high-pressure compression for industrial gases and specialty applications.

Broad incumbents

• Chart Industries: Larger industrial equipment manufacturer with significant hydrogen liquefaction and cryogenic equipment exposure. Competes with PDC in hydrogen refueling infrastructure through integrated station solutions and broader portfolio.
• Flowserve Corporation: Major manufacturer of pumps, valves, seals, and related flow-control equipment serving oil & gas, power, and chemical markets. Overlap with PDC in industrial gas compression and hydrogen handling equipment.
• Atlas Copco: Global industrial compressor and vacuum equipment manufacturer with broad gas and process compressor portfolio. Competes with PDC in industrial gas and emerging hydrogen compression applications at much larger scale.
• Air Products and Chemicals: Global industrial gas giant and major hydrogen fuel participant; both a PDC customer and a downstream competitor as it expands its own hydrogen refueling infrastructure and station technologies.
• IDEX Corporation (Fluitron): Diversified industrial manufacturer whose Fluitron division supplies diaphragm and gas compression equipment; competes with PDC in specialty gas compression and serves similar semiconductor, laboratory, and specialty gas end markets.

Emerging players

• McPhy Energy: French hydrogen equipment specialist producing electrolyzers and hydrogen refueling stations. Direct overlap with PDC's SimpleFuel and HRS offerings in turnkey hydrogen fueling infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PDCMachines
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• Instagraminstagram.com/pdcmachines

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PDC Machines