Otto Junker, a globally renowned manufacturer of advanced industrial furnace systems for the metal processing sector, has successfully concluded a key decarbonisation project at Neuman Aluminium's Strangpresswerk facility in Lilienfeld, Lower Austria. Dedicated to aluminium component production, the facility is actively advancing its transition toward sustainable manufacturing practices.
Image source: otto-junker.com
Both companies have successfully transitioned a gas-fired billet heating plant to electric heating, marking a significant milestone toward climate-neutral production. Previously, commissioned as a gas-fired convective billet heater until 2016, the plant has now been upgraded to the energy-efficient EcoJet system.
With this transition, the facility can now heat its 8-inch aluminium rods using clean, CO₂-free energy. As production demand increases, the rods are heated at a controlled rate, with target temperatures reaching up to 480°C to ensure process efficiency and product consistency.
Herren Schatko, the Technical Manager of the Neuman Aluminium pressworks, stated, "The plant runs reliably in continuous operation, with a high energy efficiency and completely without any fossil energy carriers. That way, it meets all the requirements of our decarbonisation strategy and represents an important step towards climate-neutral production."
Through this decarbonisation initiative, the facility now efficiently manages the electric heating wire coil, achieving over 90 per cent energy utilisation. The supplied electric energy is converted into process heat with minimal losses, significantly enhancing overall energy efficiency.
Owing to this, Stefan Krieger from the Otto Junker Service Department stated, "The project emphasises the importance of regularly checking existing processes for their future viability. By means of targeted modernisations or conversions of plants, companies can make significant progress towards climate neutrality within a short period of time using solutions which can be integrated in the ongoing production."
Otto Junker also offers this type of equipment with hybrid heating options, enabling maximum flexibility in energy sourcing. This project demonstrates that converting gas-fired systems can drive meaningful progress toward climate neutrality, while seamlessly integrating with existing production operations.
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