Category: News EN

The new heating concept developed by extrutec (EHKO), consisting of an electrically resistance-heated base heating system in combination with an inductive taper, has already been sold to the first customers Purso and Mäkelä from Finland. To test the new concept, a test zone consisting of a 2.5-meter-long segment for 12-inch logs was set up and put into operation at the Menden site. The first series of tests are very promising and confirm the previously simulated data. The heating output of 280 kW is realized via resistance-heated heating registers. The test zone will be available for customer demonstrations next February from 21st February to 29th of February 2024 (week 8 and 9). Heating tests and control behavior will be demonstrated, and there will also be the opportunity to visit the production facility for induction systems at the Menden site. If you are interested in a visit, our sales manager Ulrich Bucher will be happy to answer your questions and arrange an appointment.

extrutec is featured in the November issue of the international Aluminium Journal with a multi-page report. The report reflects the interview by Volker Karow and Dennis Roß with extrutec's CEO Uwe Günter and Business Unit Manager Joachim Sokoll. The main topics are extrutec's new developments around the electrically resistance heated high convection furnace (EHKO) as well as the further increase of the energy efficiency of the extrutec induction furnaces by using an Eco Show Unit (ESU) to 77% efficiency.

The whole Artikle can be dowonloaded in our News-Section oder here.

After a break of several years, Louis Fortmann is once again active for extrutec. With his company Fortmann Engineering and Consulting Pty Ltd, Louis will become extrutec's representative for the Australian, New Zealand and Oceania markets. He will play a key role between the customers and extrutec as the local contact for all matters. Extrutec is delighted to have Louis back on board. The increased focus on green technologies also offers great opportunities for Down Under to take a step towards CO2-free extrusion production with extrutec technologies. The combination of resistance-heated base heating and the hybrid inductive taper unit is particularly relevant in this regard. The so-called inline EHKO heater is a distinctive feature of extrutec and can also be integrated into existing extrusion lines as a retrofit.

The production line modernization of Mäkelä Alu in Finland will reduce its co2 emission by 960 tons. This is made possible by the complete electrification of the heating process. The so called electrically heated high speed convection furnace (EHKO), developed by extrutec, combines the highest possible energy efficiency with a pure electrical heating source. Special about the EHKO für Mäkele is the patented Inline-Version. This combines the resistant heated base heating with a directly connected induction oven. This saves additional energy and is extremely space saving, in that way that old gas/LPG furnaces can be replaced without major modifications of the equipment setup.

extrutec is extremely happy to work on this new outstanding project with Mäkelä Alu as customer with a long relationship.

Mehr Information on the heating concept can be found here and in the official press release of Mäkelä here.

The extrutec long term customer Purso oy from Siuro Finland is widely known for their aluminum profile production of sustainable solutions for a wide range of uses from industrial applications and building facades to lighting. The company pursues an ambitious goal to reduce their CO₂ emissions with every new investment. The electrically heated high speed convection furnace (EHKO) from extrutec offers a system configuration that covers the complete basic heating with electric resistance-heating elements. As a result, the entire heating process can be made significantly more efficient and fossil fuels can be completely eliminated.

extrutec will deliver the new EHKO heater with hot log saw as a replacement for an old gas fired furnace. The installation will start at the beginning of 2025. Purso is the first customer worldwide to buy such a heating system. As this system design is the first of its kind in the world, extrutec decided to build an EHKO test furnace and put it into operation at the Menden site. The first tests are very promising and confirm the previously simulated data. The test zone will be ready for visits next February 2024. We are very proud to have convinced Purso of our EHKO heating system. We look forward to the implementation and to working with Purso on the path to CO₂-free aluminum profile production.

More information on the new extrutec heating conept can be found here.

The project completion of the heating line replaced by extrutec on the P12 at Hydro's Offenburg site marks the beginning of a new era of efficient billet heating. For the project, a new Inline billet heating line (gas and induction) with hot log saw as well as a new vertical log storage system had to be accommodated in an enormously limited space. Thanks to creative solutions, extrutec's patented Eco Shower Unit (ESU) could also be installed. The ESU uses combustion gases downstream of the gas furnace preheating zone to heat water via a heat exchanger and apply it to the aluminum bars for time-optimized preheating. Hydro Offenburg made a conscious decision in favor of extrutec and this worldwide unique equipment configuration due to the long business relationship with the Hydro Group. This equipment configuration is marketed by extrutec under the brand name Eco Heating Process (EHP^TM). Compared to the replaced eheating system, 36% gas can be saved while production is increased. Thanks to the new hot saw, the extrusion line can also be operated completely without billet scrap.

Due to the high resource savings, this investment in the extrutec Eco Heating Process is additionally subsidized by the government with a six-digit sum. Subsidy programs are offered in many countries and have been approved for all extrutec projects related to the EHP^TM so far. More detailed information can be found on our website at: Eco Heating Process – extrutec GmbH (extrutec-gmbh.de)

At this year's "Aluexpo" trade fair in Istanbul, extrutec was again represented with a large team and a newly designed exhibition booth.

Numerous interested visitors from a very international audience came to the extrutec booth to find out about our technical innovations and solution concepts and to receive detailed advice.

The focus was on the very effective concepts for reducing energy consumption and decarbonising the various processes in an aluminium extrusion equipment.

Due to the high level of customer interest, many new contacts were made and upcoming projects were discussed, so that in retrospect, the trade fair can be considered a complete success.

The extrutec team is looking forward to the next Aluexpo event in Istanbul and is confident that the market will continue to grow.

The Turkish industrial group Ulusan has decided as a new customer from Turkey for a equipment combination from extrutec. A double order was placed for the equipment of a new ten- and fourteen-inch line. Ulusan deliberately chose the Eco Heating ProcessTM as well as one of the most advanced profile cooling systems with patented Alpha Flex Technology from extrutec. This new type of cooling closes the Alpha gap between air and water cooling and thus guarantees medium cooling rates with the lowest possible distortion through precise water application onto the extrusion profile.

The Turkish group Kalibre Aluminyum has chosen extrutec's Eco Heating Process (EHP^TM) and one of the most advanced profile cooling systems with patented Alpha Flex Technology. The system configuration, consisting of the Eco Shower Unit (ESU) exclusive to extrutec, and a gas/induction furnace with hot log saw, is characterized by the highest possible efficiency for gas-based heating systems. The Eco Shower Unit alone provides an 18% reduction in gas consumption. Downstream of the press, extrutec supplies a state-of-the-art profile cooling system with Alpha Flex Technology^TM.

The total order consists of two identical 10 inch system configurations for the main factory in Turkey and for a new production plant in Mexico.

Already during the Corona pandemic, the new gas furnace system for the Israeli customer extal was delivered to Israel. However, entry regulations prevented the timely commissioning. The plant consists of a new gas furnace consisting of three convective preheating zones and four directly heated zones with a nose zone for the application of a gas taper.

Thanks to the remote maintenance module installed as standard in extrutec systems, equipment support is possible at any time even without on-site presence. In the event of a malfunction, assistance can be provided in the shortest possible time. The online connection is established by means of a key in the control cabinet. This ensures that a connection to the Internet is only established at the customer's request.

Thanks to the good cooperation between extal and extrutec, the commissioning could be completed in a very short time.