Research & Development at ANDRITZ: Innovation at full speed — enabling the green transition
Research and development are integral to ANDRITZ's corporate strategy and vital to creating growth and maintaining long-term competitiveness. Several hundred employees work in R&D at numerous locations worldwide. Multiple research and development test centers in Europe and the US support innovation. We spend around 3% of our revenue annually on research and development.
With more than 6,500 patent protections, our vibrant development efforts are clear. A key factor in our success is the direct involvement of R&D employees in project development, tendering and execution. Our primary focus areas — enhancing environmental protection, improving energy and material efficiency, and extending the lifecycle of machinery and plants — enable customers worldwide to meet environmental regulations, reduce costs and increase productivity, generating both economic and ecological value.
Numerous advantages of cooperation with universities
We are also closely linked to an international network of research partners. We actively seek out and maintain collaborations with universities engaged in research projects using relevant technologies. Another advantage of these relationships is our contact with highly qualified graduates, who often choose us as an employer after completing their studies.
INNOVATIONS IN DIFFERENT BUSINESS UNITS
As a key technology supplier to the green transition, ANDRITZ is well-placed to develop the needed innovations in many areas, motivated by the focus on delivering for our customers and making a positive contribution to the world. Whatever the future brings, we are confident in our ability to adapt and thrive in the ever-evolving global landscape.
Innovations in Pulp & Paper
ANDRITZ side streams
ANDRITZ side streams technologies optimize the chemical processes in pulp mills, improving efficiency and sustainability while reducing costs. By purifying methanol, producing sulfuric acid, recovering lignin, implementing multi-fuel burners and managing non-condensable gas, these technologies turn "waste into value" and support the path towards zero-emission pulp mills. This approach improves resource efficiency, adds to a cleaner environment and opens new possibilities for the industry.
Innovations in Hydropower
Synchronous condensers
Although synchronous condensers were already used in the last century, they have been put to new and innovative use lately: SynCons – as they are called - are the shock absorbers of the power grid. They cushion the dynamic power fluctuations and inequalities arising from feeding in volatile wind and solar power, thus keeping the grid stable. In this way, they offer a reliable solution for maintaining a stable and secure energy grid and help to enable the energy transition. ANDRITZ provides cutting-edge solutions that help integrate volatile renewable energy into the grid, ensuring compliance with strict regulations while enhancing grid stability. The synchronous condensers are vital in advancing global decarbonization efforts by supporting the transition to renewable energy.
Innovations in Metals
Green steel continuous galvanizing line
ANDRITZ Metals' latest innovation, the "Green Steel CGL”, is a continuous galvanizing line that operates without direct CO₂ emissions. The gas-fired heating section is equipped with hydrogen-ready burners, enabling burner operation with 100% green hydrogen. All originally gas-fired radiant tubes are changed to electrical ones to make operation with green electricity possible. This electrification eliminates local CO₂ and NOx emissions and increases energy efficiency by up to 40%. This means a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions in the downstream steel production and an essential step towards a more sustainable future.
Innovations in Environment & Energy
Carbon capture solutions
ANDRITZ has developed various solutions to capture carbon dioxide (CO₂) from industrial processes: One solution is based on an absorption/desorption process using different solvents (amine blends or hot potassium carbonate). The other one utilizes advanced membranes that selectively separate CO₂. For each industry, ANDRITZ developed efficient concepts to integrate the specific energy requirements (steam, electricity, etc.) based on our customers' needs. The captured CO₂ can be processed to the required purity and either pressure for further conversion into valuable chemicals or e-fuels, or for transportation and safe storage. Our solutions not only support customers in decarbonizing their operations but also play a vital role in creating cleaner air and fostering a more sustainable environment for future generations.
