With the HydroSeal product, Voith has successfully participated in the Environmental Technology Award in Category 3 – Technologies for Emission Reduction, Treatment and Separation. The company came second.
The Ministry of Environment, Climate and Energy of Baden-Württemberg has been awarding the Environmental Technology Award since 2009. It is awarded every two years for excellent and innovative products in environmental technology. The prize money amounts to 100,000 euros and is spread over four categories ("Energy Efficiency", "Material Efficiency", "Technologies for Emission Reduction, Treatment and Separation" and "Measurement and Control Technology") and a special prize of the jury. Participation is open to companies with head offices or branches in Baden-Württemberg.
The award recognizes products that make a significant contribution to resource efficiency and environmental protection and are nearing launch onto the market or that will be on the market in not more than two years.
This year's awards ceremony by Environment Minister Franz Untersteller took place on 7 July 2015, in the Römerkastell (Roman Fort) in Stuttgart.
"We see our ranking as a special award for our commitment to the development of innovative environmental technology," said Marc Erkelenz, R&D Manager of Mechanical Roll Service at Voith.
The HydroSeal product is a new sealing strip system with integrated lubricating water supply for suction rolls in a paper machine.
"Compared to previous sealing strip systems the new design from Voith, for which several patents have been filed, saves water and energy at the same time and furthermore results in a number of additional process advantages and thus a high customer value,"Erkelenz explained.
According to Voith, the environmental benefit is immense — with the rebuild of only one suction roll savings in fresh and waste water of up to 20,000 m3/year (compared to about 8 Olympic swimming pools), and about 1 million kWh/year (the equivalent annual energy consumption of approximately 667 persons) can be achieved, depending on the size and type of the machine.
