Patent ID: 7722685

Claim:
Process for producing a fuel cell stack with the following steps: a) stacking the fuel cells into an assembled fuel cell stack ( 1 ), and b) joining the fuel cell stack ( 1 ) as the assembled fuel cell stack ( 1 ) is heated and compressed, wherein compression of the assembled fuel cell stack is performed by application of at least one controlled force component (F) to the assembled fuel cell stack ( 1 ), wherein the application of the at least one controlled force component (F) is performed based upon a change of the dimensions of the assembled fuel cell stack ( 1 ) detected with at least one distance sensor, wherein a detected force-path curve of a bracing of the fuel cell stack ( 1 ) is compared to at least one predefined theoretical curve, and wherein, when the comparison indicates that the detected force-path curve has deviated from the at least one predefined theoretical curve, said at least one force component (F) is increased or decreased so as to counter the deviation.