12.04.2018
Recycling of phosphoric acid
The Styrian plant manufacturer BDI has landed a contract in Germany to design a special plant for phosphorus recycling. The range of services provided by BDI includes the preparation of the engineering local authority approval documents, detailed engineering design and upscaling. The plant is scheduled to go into operation in 2020 and will recover 6,500 tonnes of ultra-pure phosphoric acid from around 20,000 tonnes of sewage sludge per annum. In Germany, phosphorus is a vital but scarce raw material, which currently must be imported. But with its own recycling plant, it has sufficient support from this project to meet the strategic requirements to recycle this raw material from wastewater starting in 2029 at the latest. More →
11.04.2018
Rainbow photovoltaic
Up to now, there has been little scope for varying the design of photovoltaic façades in terms of colour. However, using active glass façades from PVP Photovoltaik, it has now become possible to print PV modules with any desired colour. The underlying structure remains invisible and the modules are ideally matched to their surroundings. The base layer of the Rainbow Façade consists of modules of mono crystalline cells, with the upper glass layer individually colour printed. More →
29.03.2018
4000 cubic meters of compost per hour
On show at the IFAT exhibition (from Monday, May 14, 2018), is the Topturn X5000 from the Styrian machinery manufacturer Komptech, a newly developed self-propelled compost heap turner in the middle to upper power range. This is ideally suited to the normal heap size of many composting plants, with a width of five metres and a height of two metres. The Topturn X5000 turns over up to 4000 cubic metres of compost per hour. The turnover roller, which has a diameter of 1.2 meters, ensures high throughput and thus the best possible mixing of the composting material which is very important in composting. Further highlights from IFAT can also be experienced at an evening reception of the Green Tech Cluster on 15 May in Munich. More →
28.03.2018
6 in one hit
The Styrian plant manufacturer Binder + Co has unveiled CLARITY multiway, a unique sorting concept for lightweight packaging waste. Using only one sensor unit, up to six material fractions can be separated and sorted, for example, PET, HDPE, PP, beverage cartons, paper and cardboard. The system is fully automatic and separates the fractions, correct to technical specification, for further processing. With China halting the import of waste materials, Europe is now faced with the problem of usefully recycling waste, which was previously exported, within the EU. Styrian recycling machine manufacturers are able to make an important contribution in this field using their innovative technology. Up to date, 87% of the plastic waste across the EU has been exported to China. More →
14.03.2018
Styrian cooling for furniture giant
The workforce at the IKEA location in Singapore, in the tropics, can now look forward to some 1.587 MWh of environmentally friendly solar heat energy every year. The energy, which is generated by a 2,472 m² S.O.L.I.D. plant, is used to drive an absorption chiller for the air conditioning of the furniture store. Not only does this significantly reduce electricity consumption, it also saves 428 tonnes of CO2 per year. The system is a showcase project for the industry that demonstrates the technical and economic potential of the technology and is already the second solar cooling system from S.O.L.I.D. to be installed in Southeast Asia. More →
05.03.2018
Opportunities in emerging markets
The Styria based company Christof Industries has recently developed a user-friendly device, called SinTon, for the sterilisation of medical waste. The use of disposable products daily generates a high level of infectious residues, which must be disposed of in a cumbersome manner. Using SinTon, a combination of saturated steam and microwave energy completely eliminates the risk of germs so that medical waste can be disposed of with household waste. 25 of these Styrian high-tech devices have now been exported to Laos. This is a real revolution for the country in Southeast Asia, as medical waste in developing countries is usually disposed of in the untreated state together with household waste. This can lead to infectious diseases being transmitted to humans by animals. More →
27.02.2018
Sustainable remediation of wastewater treatment systems
An interdisciplinary group of researchers from Graz University of Technology and the University of Graz developed a new material for reducing biogenic sulphuric acid corrosion (BSC) in wastewater treatment systems. The corrosion is caused by microbiological processes and produces a strong smelling and highly toxic sulphuric acid, which damages the concrete of sewers and destroys it within a few years. By researching this process, new acid-resistant materials with an antibacterial surface have been developed. This innovative material enables sustainable remediation of damaged sewage systems and significantly extends their service life. More →
21.02.2018
Third gold for the Green Tech Cluster
In an international comparison of “Cluster Management Excellence”, the innovation related provider VDI/VDE Berlin awarded the Green Tech Cluster the highest mark of 100 points. The Styrian Environmental Technology Cluster now stands on the winners’ podium as the new No. 1 and leads the list of 1000 clusters audited worldwide across four continents. This award for outstanding strategy, spirit and achievement is already the third “Gold Medal” following awards in 2010 and 2012. The cluster recently initiated 35 industrial innovation projects for a liveable environment. More →
19.02.2018
Intrapreneurship to grow ideas
The Joanneum University of Applied Sciences together with leading partners is launching a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Intrapreneurship (entrepreneurial spirit in the company). The course provides input in the form of videos, texts and contributions from speakers from academia (including the renowned California Lutheran University) and business (including Bosch, SAP, AVL, Signavio, and 3M). In collaboration with course participants, it will be possible to develop and evaluate new ideas, 100% online and free of charge, right up to the initial sales pitch. The course is open to interested persons from all disciplines and aims to bring together around 2,000 participants in a novel format. More →
12.02.2018
Connect! – Green data exchange
Connect! connects man and machine. Komptech has developed new communication technology that allows real time condition-based maintenance anytime, anywhere. The module is integrated into the machinery and transmits data, such as operating hours, fuel consumption and idle times, via mobile communication to a central server. As a result, work tasks can be accurately documented and the cost effectiveness of environmental technology machinery can be further optimised. While visiting Komptech and environmental specialists Saubermacher, Federal Minister Elisabeth Köstinger and State Governor Herman Schützenhöfer were impressed by these and other Styrian energy technologies. More →
09.02.2018
“Zero Waste” using Styrian Technology
The Styria based Binder+Co is a specialist in environmental technology that is setting new standards in the recycling of waste glass. Binder+Co technology has now become a critical element in achieving the goals of the recently launched Zero Waste initiative of the State of Colorado. A sophisticated sensor based sorting system recycles 80,000 tonnes of broken glass every year. As a result, the glass recycling rate in Colorado has risen from 6.25 to 21.65 percent. With this project, the company has now been nominated for the USA-Biz-Award - also known as the “Business Oscar”. Also in the running is BDI with a BioDiesel plant that converts waste fats in the Los Angeles metropolitan region into fuel grade diesel. More →
18.01.2018
Focus on solar district heating
The state of Styria is committed to expanding and converting district heating to renewable energy sources, and along with the “BIG SOLAR Graz” project it has already established a name for itself in the international district heating sector. Following many past international venues, this year, the independent research institute AEE INTEC has succeeded in bringing the “Solar District Heating Conference” to Graz from 11 to 12 April. Some 200 international experts in district heating and solar energy from more than 20 countries are expected to meet to discuss topics such as solar heating networks in urban areas, repowering of biomass heating plants with solar thermal energy and the latest advances in technology concepts and components. More →
15.01.2018
Expansion of Graz as a research location
In 2017, Infineon Austria achieved record sales of around € 2.54 billion. This positive growth also drives the company's R & D activities in Graz, where solutions are being developed for all business areas in the Group. These activities, which include areas such as improving energy efficiency using semiconductor devices and near field communication, are set to grow by a further 290 research jobs by 2020. More →
18.12.2017
Solar roof tiles made in Styria
Tesla has announced them, the Styrian company PVP is already producing and installing photovoltaic roof tiles on a large scale. This is achieved by building nine solar cells into an integrated roof module. Visually, these can hardly be distinguished from standard dark roof tiles, however they are continuously generating power. The first project using Styrian energy tiles has now been implemented in Denmark. A hotel was equipped with 5,000 modules, which provide a total output of 180 kWp. More →
12.12.2017
New look for fresh fruit and vegetables
The VPZ Verpackungszentrum (Packaging Centre) has developed a new cellulose packaging for fruit and vegetables using FSC-certified beech wood. The foodstuffs bag is manufactured from 100% wood, and the breathable and moisture regulating properties of the bag keep the contents fresh for up to two to three days longer than normal packaging. Thinnings from certified native beech forests are used to make the bag. Lenzing AG has been secured as the manufacturer and uses a CO2 neutral process for producing the fibres in Austria. Since November 2017, the Packnatur® Cellulose bag has been on the shelves of the Swiss Coop supermarket chain. More →
07.12.2017
Magazine: Visionary Grätzel cells, predictive maintenance & upcycling
The companies in the Green Tech Valley have their sights firmly fixed on leadership in environmental technology. In the December issue of the Green Tech magazine, you will discover a host of “World’s First Projects” full of innovation, pioneering spirit and expertise from Styria. More →
23.11.2017
A Styrian approach to waste for Rome
The Italian capital of Rome has a waste crisis. Every year, around 70,000 tonnes of waste are exported to Austria for thermal recycling. During a visit from a joint delegation of several recycling companies - Saubermacher, REDWAVE, Lindner Recyclingtech, and the Green Tech Cluster - various waste management solutions were presented to officials of the city of Rome and the Italian Ministry of the Environment. The visit awakened notable interest of the Roman side and a return visit has been agreed in order to learn more about Styrian know-how on site. More →
16.11.2017
The world’s most advanced reprocessing plant for refrigerator appliances
Rumpold Tschechien, a 100% subsidiary of Saubermacher, has been awarded the contract for the disposal and treatment of around 160,000 refrigerator appliances. This corresponds to around 50% of all refrigerators in the Czech Republic. A new plant near Prague will be built for this contract, which will be one of the most effective worldwide with a recycling rate of 96%. The EU directive only requires 85%. The secondary raw materials recovered such as plastic, iron, aluminium or copper are reused in various industrial production processes. The plant will go into operation in early 2018. More →
13.11.2017
From an urban waste fat mountain to green mobility
The Styrian plant manufacturer BDI has secured a major contract for the construction of a biodiesel plant in California. The key technology feature is a specially developed catalyst that is recyclable and does not require elaborate treatment of the by-products. The BDI project in the USA is already the third major biodiesel plant for the disposal of waste fats from urban areas. Following on from installations in Hong Kong, where separated waste fats from local restaurants are treated, and in Stanlow (UK), where processing includes converting the “fat mountains” out of London’s sewers into biodiesel, the California plant mainly processes waste fats from the city of Los Angeles. More →
22.09.2017
Two world firsts in the Science Tower
The 60 metre high, SFL technologies Science Tower, with its pioneering green technologies, acts as a flagship for the Smart City Graz throughout the world: The façade is the first in the world to use large surface area energy glazing with Grätzel cells and thin glass “made in Styria”. A mobile PV sunshade marks the time on the “sundial clock tower” and uses 100% solar energy to supply electricity and heating through the SFL energygrid. Housed within the 14 floors of the flagship tower are a host of Green Tech Cluster partners working on the development of new technologies. More →