Extrutec has successfully completed an electrification project at Neuman Aluminium’s production facility in Marktl, Austria.
The project involved converting two log furnaces from gas to electricity, as well as all ageing furnaces.
In addition, waste heat from the foundry is used for preheating. The electricity required comes from 100% renewable energy sources. The plant could therefore reduce Scope 1 CO₂ emissions by about 94%.
This changeover is an important step in terms of energy efficiency and resource conservation, with annual CO₂ savings of around 311 tons in the overall heat treatment process.
At the same time, the new furnaces bring significant technical improvements to the production process. The components are heated more quickly and evenly by horizontal air flow. The appearance of the parts also benefits – stains and water residues are significantly minimised by extracting the residual moisture after quenching at the beginning of the heat treatment process during heating.
The furnaces allow the process parameters to be specifically adjusted for each component. A temperature uniformity of +/- 2°C is achieved, which results in consistent mechanical properties. Overall, transport and handling costs are reduced using a new lightweight charging rack and direct transfer to the heat treatment furnaces after solution annealing.
Thomas Eutebach, Managing Director of Neuman Aluminium Strangpresswerk GmbH, stated: “Despite economically challenging times, it is important to us to pursue long-term sustainability goals. With this investment, we can take another important step towards decarbonisation and drive forward the reduction of fossil fuels in our production.
“As a company with regional roots, we have a special responsibility, especially towards the environment and future generations.”
The project was funded by the EU, Austria’s Climate and Energy Fund, and the environmental funding programme of the BMK.