News from Abroad: Hydrogen Processing and a Greener Future

Heat Treat Today is partnering with two international publications: heat processing, a Vulkan-Verlag GmbH publication that serves mostly the European and Asian heat treat markets, and Furnaces International, a Quartz Business Media publication that primarily serves the English-speaking globe. Through these partnerships, we are sharing the latest news, tech tips, and cutting-edge articles that will serve our audience — manufacturers with in-house heat treat.

In this article, all eyes are on CO2 and hydrogen. 


RATH Limiting CO2 Emissions with Furnace Operations

At the RATH plant in Krummnußbaum, Lower Austria, two new vacuum nitriding furnaces are being operated. (Source: heat processing)

“[Two] new vacuum nitriding furnaces, used exclusively for the production of silicon carbide plates and bricks in a nitrogen atmosphere, are now being operated with electricity. The result: CO2 emissions are around 70% lower than with the previous gas-fi red furnace, and fossil fuels are reduced to a minimum.”

Read More: “RATH reduces CO2 emissions by 70% in silicon carbide production” at heat-processing.com

Bigger, Greener, and Employee-Centered Growth in France

Pfeiffer Vacuum Technology AG announced in May 2023 a seven-year, €75 million investment plan for its Annecy site. (Source: heat processing)

“Our investment plan will serve to modernize and digitalize our production in order to continue our growth. We want to double the operations of our French subsidiary with a sales target of €600 million by 2030 and create 100 to 150 additional jobs,’ emphasized Dr. Britta Giesen, CEO of Pfeiffer Vacuum. During the same period, the Group intends to accelerate its course to reduce its CO2 emissions in Scope 1 and 2 to net zero by 2030.”

Read More: “Pfeiffer Vacuum invests €75 million in its location in France” at heat-processing.com

£4.6m Grant Assistance for Novelis To Establish Hydrogen
Burning Trials

With the recently awarded grant by the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, Novelis’ Latchford plant will test the use of hydrogen on one of its recycling furnaces in a demonstration phase in 2024.
(Source: Furnaces International)

“Depending on the final configuration, replacing natural gas with hydrogen to feed the remelting furnace could reduce CO2 eq emissions by up to 90% compared to using the same amount of natural gas.”

Read More: "Toward Carbon Neutral Production: Novelis to Trial Use of Hydrogen in Recycling Furnaces” at furnaces-international.com

Fives and Hydro Successful Batch of Hydrogen-Fueled Recycled Aluminum

Green hydrogen is one of the most promising emission-free fuels to address the environmental challenges of heavy polluting industries, including aluminium.
(Source: Furnaces International)

"The test in Hydro Extrusion’s plant is the world’s first on an industrial scale. The natural gas was successfully replaced with green hydrogen in the recycling of aluminium, a key step towards decarbonization of Industry.”

Read More: “Fives and Hydro partner to produce the world’s first batch of hydrogen-fueled recycled aluminium” at furnaces-international.com


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