Promat targets drying process carbon footprint with steam reuse system
Iain Hoey
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Promat reduces energy in passive fire protection board drying
Passive fire protection specialist Promat has cut energy use in its drying process by up to 66 per cent with a new technology installation.
The change forms part of the company’s ClearChange sustainability program and supports accelerated decarbonisation targets.
Promat identified the drying stage on a major production line as the most energy-intensive part of manufacturing fire protection boards, accounting for around 60% of the carbon footprint at that stage.
The company installed the new drying system at its Tisselt factory in Belgium. Working with cleantech partner CEE, Promat implemented technology that reuses super-heated steam to dry the boards. Heat is recovered and reused throughout the process via an industrial heat pump.
Duncan Gardiner, sustainability and communications manager at Promat, said: “The new line uses energy far more efficiently, with heat recovered and reused throughout the process via an industrial heat pump.
“Thanks to this steam dryer technology we have seen a decrease in energy consumption during the production of our boards, which is a considerable contribution towards our decarbonisation targets.”
Further steps in manufacturing decarbonisation
Promat is part of ETEX, which has committed to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The company continues to invest in lower-energy technology at the Tisselt plant, including solar panels and electrification of some production processes.
All boards produced at Tisselt carry Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) to provide third-party verified sustainability data for customers.
Promat designs new products with higher circular content and lower water and energy consumption.
The new drying process contributes to lower embodied carbon in Promat fire protection solutions.