DREWSEN Spezialpapiere is consistently pursuing its course towards CO2-neutral paper production. As part of the multistage transformation plan, with which 80% of the target is to be realised by 2030, the focus is not only on expanding renewable energies but also on increasing energy efficiency.

For this purpose, DREWSEN is investing €1.4 million in a state-of-the-art turbo blower for vacuum generation in the paper manufacturing process. This investment is intended not only to achieve significant savings in electrical energy, but also to fully utilise the waste heat from the blower in the paper manufacturing process. In addition, the investment aims to provide more robust and increased vacuum generation for paper production.

turbo blower to increase energy efficiency
After 14 months of planning and construction, the turbo blower successfully went into operation in January 2024. "Despite all the challenges that the employees faced, including staff shortages due to illness, the team once again demonstrated its reliability, commitment and, last but not least, its expertise. As a result, the challenging conversion work was successfully completed at the turn of the year 2023/2024." commented project manager Dr Wilken Franke.

The first few weeks of operation have already shown that the efficiency target for saving electrical energy has already been exceeded. The savings are roughly equivalent to the consumption of over 400 average German households*. At the same time, all of the waste heat from the turbo blower is already being utilised in the drying process for paper production. In addition, the use of the new vacuum generation technology significantly reduces water consumption.

With the introduction of the turbo blower, DREWSEN is setting another milestone for futureorientated paper production. The company remains determined to pursue innovative paths and implement sustainable solutions in order to make a contribution to climate neutrality.

* Source: Statistisches Bundesamt
** This is a project funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) as part of the EEW funding competition.