Patent ID: 8236067

Claim:
A method for assembling a fuel cell stack comprising the steps of: (a) providing a plurality of dunnage cassettes configured to receive one of a membrane electrode assembly and a bipolar plate therein; (b) providing a plurality of containers configured to receive the dunnage cassettes therein; (c) providing a fixture configured to receive the dunnage cassettes therein; (d) providing an assembly device having a plurality of locating rods disposed thereon, the locating rods configured to assemble at least one membrane electrode assembly together with at least one bipolar plate; (e) disposing the at least one membrane electrode assembly into the dunnage cassettes; (f) disposing the at least one bipolar plate into the dunnage cassettes; (g) inserting the dunnage cassettes into the containers; (h) disposing the containers adjacent opposing sides of the fixture; (i) causing the dunnage cassettes to slide from the containers into the fixture; (j) causing the locating rods of the assembly device to extend through the dunnage cassettes; and (k) causing the dunnage cassettes and the containers to retract from the fixture having the at least one membrane electrode assembly and the at least one bipolar plate remain on the assembly device.