Valmet to supply automation to AustroCel’s new bioethanol plant in Hallein, Austria

AustroCel’s bioethanol plant currently under construction in Hallein, Austria, will run with Valmet’s automation to produce biofuel to replace fossil fuel.

Valmet Oyj’s trade press release on May 5, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. EET

Valmet will supply automation to AustroCel’s bioethanol plant currently under construction in Hallein, Austria. The advanced automation technology will provide the plant with high operational flexibility, reliability and availability in producing biofuel to replace fossil fuel.

The order was included in Valmet’s orders received of the first quarter 2020. The value of the order is not disclosed. The delivery will take place in June 2020, and the plant will start its operation at the end of 2020.

The bioethanol from the plant is produced from waste materials from the adjacent viscose pulp mill through a process of fermenting and distilling wood sugar. This biofuel will be added to petrol, replacing about one percent of the annual petrol consumption in Austria and saving around 50,000 tons of CO₂ per year.

“We selected Valmet’s automation technology for our new bioethanol plant based on our positive experience with the Valmet DNA automation system in our pulp mill and the good service support we have received from the company over the years,” says Josef Kendlbacher, Project Manager, AustroCel Hallein GmbH.

“We have established a trustworthy relationship with AustroCel Hallein by working closely together and offering relevant life-cycle services to the mill,” says Mustafa Began, Service Area Manager, Automation, Valmet.

The Hallein plant has been using Valmet’s automation systems for decades. The first system, Damatic Classic, was delivered to the site in 1987 and upgraded to Damatic XD in 1989. The system has been continuously renewed during the past 30 years as part of the Valmet DNA Software Life Cycle Agreement between the companies.

AustroCel’s bioethanol plant currently under construction in Hallein, Austria, will run with Valmet’s automation to produce biofuel to replace fossil fuel.

Information about Valmet’s delivery

Valmet’s delivery scope includes an upgrade of the existing system and the extension of the Valmet DNA automation and information management system, along with application engineering, project implementation and installation. The system includes intrinsically safe ATEX process interfaces and a redundant Profinet solution that interfaces with smart motor controllers.

Process performance is supported by Valmet Control Performance services, which are part of the Valmet Industrial Internet offering.

Information about the customer AustroCel Hallein GmbH

With a turnover of EUR 146 million, AustroCel Hallein GmbH employs more than 250 people and is the market leader in China for textile cellulose made from spruce. In 2018, the company sold more than 157,000 tons of viscose pulp and produced 105 GWh of district heat and 95 GWh of green electricity.

VALMET
Corporate Communications

For further information, please contact:
Mustafa Began, Service Area Manager, Automation, Valmet, Tel. +43 664 1844698

Valmet is the leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. We aim to become the global champion in serving our customers.

Valmet's strong technology offering includes pulp mills, tissue, board and paper production lines, as well as power plants for bioenergy production. Our advanced services and automation solutions improve the reliability and performance of our customers' processes and enhance the effective utilization of raw materials and energy.

Valmet's net sales in 2019 were approximately EUR 3.5 billion. Our more than 13,000 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers' performance forward – every day. Valmet's head office is in Espoo, Finland and its shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki.

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