AMP upgrades Madrid plant with two-stage emissions treatment technology

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Ardagh Metal Packaging (AMP) is increasing output at its Spanish beverage can facility through the introduction of an advanced emissions treatment installation at its plant outside Madrid. The project, delivered by environmental engineering company [Dürr CTS], represents an investment worth several million euros and is intended to support both production growth and tighter environmental performance standards.

The newly commissioned setup has been designed to manage emissions from AMP’s current manufacturing line, as well as an additional line being introduced at the site. With higher production capacity, the facility is expected to create a larger flow of exhaust air with higher solvent concentrations, which requires a more advanced treatment process.

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To meet this requirement, the system uses a two-phase approach. Air flows produced during the internal coating phase, which usually have low solvent concentrations but a high flow rate, are first treated in a filtration phase before entering a VOC concentration unit. Once concentrated, the resulting air flow is transferred to a regenerative thermal oxidiser (RTO), where contaminants are broken down through high-temperature thermal treatment.

According to the companies involved, the technology has been configured to operate automatically under standard conditions. In practice, this means the process can largely sustain itself using the energy released by the solvent-laden emissions, thereby reducing reliance on additional fuel sources.

The installation also aligns with AMP’s wider sustainability agenda. The company has previously outlined plans to cut the intensity of its global VOC emissions by 10 per cent before the end of the decade, and the Madrid upgrade forms part of that broader strategy.

Commenting on the agreement, Dr Ralf Klöpfer, Co-Chief Executive Officer of [Dürr CTS] described the initiative as another example of the ongoing partnership between the two businesses, noting that beverage can manufacturers are increasingly under pressure to improve operational efficiency while also meeting more demanding environmental regulations.