FIRST WET ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATOR ORDER PLACED WITH SIEMPELKAMP ENERGY & DRYING SOLUTIONS GMBH
The project includes the delivery, installation and commissioning of the entire system. “We started the development and supply of our own WESP technology because we wanted to be able to respond to the increasing demand for waste-air purification systems. The order was placed with us while a project from the mineral-wool industry is ongoing, but it’s also of great importance in the wood-based panel and many other industries,” says Carsten Otto, Sales Director Siempelkamp EDS.
The in-house development of WESPs is based on the expertise that Siempelkamp EDS has brought together at its Environmental Technology Center in Kaiserslautern, which was established in 2022. This is where Siempelkamp has been concentrating its expertise in a team that specializes in environmental technology – a team that also includes former EWK Umwelttechnik employees – since 2022. The range of performances includes the supply and planning of new environmental technology systems as well as servicing, spare parts and rebuilds for existing EWK and Valmet systems. “This project in Kaiserslautern represents a continuation of our strategy of offering internally developed integrated and stand-alone technological solutions for the environmental sector. The successful launch into dry electrostatic precipitator technology is now being followed with wet electrostatic precipitators as the next step – and that immediately with a major order,” says Patrick Ohlenschläger, Site Manager Kaiserslautern.
The WESP for this new project is going to be used to treat the exhaust air from the forming line, curing oven and cooling zone on two production lines for mineral wool. It will meet strict emission limits in accordance with BREF guidelines, particularly for particulates, total carbon, phenol and formaldehyde.
The design uses a dual-section WESP unit and comes with extensive features; it’s also going to be CE-certified and will satisfy the highest quality standards for safety, automation and documentation that our customer requires. Installation has been planned for April 2026 and commissioning for fall 2026. “We’re delighted with this project and the trust our customer has placed in us – our entire team is fully committed to its realization,” says Carsten Otto.
Wet filter technology for the wood-based panel industry: Benefits and prospects
Environmental technology in general as well as WESP technology at Siempelkamp EDS originated from the needs of the wood-based panel industry. The company possesses many years of experience in the field of particleboard, OSB and MDF dryers and corresponding systems for treatment of exhaust air. WESP systems are required to process exhaust air from dryers; Siempelkamp EDS’ technical solution includes an integrated three‑stage process for treating water with heat recovery as a further option. Wood-based panel producers benefit from modern water treatment – the flotation system is equipped with an upstream loop reactor that cleans circulating water used in wet cleaning systems. This concept replaces the previous high-maintenance centrifuges (decanters) while contributing significantly to process efficiency.
The energy integration helps make the plant more cost-effective, the amortization times for the heat recovery systems are relatively short – which is particularly relevant for wood-processing operations and the associated high demand for energy. The synergies between ecological and economic aspects are also considerable: “Our technical solutions provide our customers with an ideal combination of lower emissions, energy savings and water treatment, specifically tailored to requirements in the wood-based panel industry,” explains Patrick Ohlenschläger. It’s also possible to retrofit existing wood-drying and press plants with these systems and components. They can further be installed in biomass plants for drying pulp and sugar beet chips, for example, and can also be used in industrial waste recovery, the pellet industry and many other areas.
