To be well informed about our customers' needs and current developments in politic and society is key to our success. To incorporate all this information into our strategy makes it possible to secure the long-term success of our customers.
Below we present news around WS, affiliated companies, as well as information concering our industry.
A long-term test for burner operation with hydrogen for heating electric strip lines was successfully completed together with Waelzholz.
Discussion on the current and future situation of hydrogen use in processes for heat treatment.
The Künne Group orders the world's first wire annealing furnace with an innovative heating concept.
With a total investment volume of almost 10 million euros, the WS Group around its core company WS Wärmeprozesstechnik GmbH is making itself fit for the future. In addition to new buildings for storage and production areas, extensive investments into advanced research and development facilities are currently being implemented.
Already under construction is an electrolyzer that will produce green hydrogen from locally generated solar power, which will then be used in the WS labs for extensive development and testing of modern heating systems. Also, just about to be commissioned is a plant to supply the research department with ammonia (NH3), a carbon-free hydrogen carrier. Ammonia has great potential to play a major role in the future energy system. Suitable heating systems and reformer plants have already been developed for many years within the WS Group and today find rapidly growing demand in different market areas.
In addition to the technology investments, the company premises will be extended by several new buildings at an additional location in Renningen. The extensive expansions thus create the necessary space to accommodate the constant growth of the WS Group. In particular, the efficient assembly of larger plants in the field of green hydrogen production from biogas as well as other specialized reformer applications will be enabled. At the same time, the construction projects are a long-term commitment to the WS Group's home base in Renningen near Stuttgart.
WS consistently relies on sustainable raw materials for the new properties. The buildings will be built using timber construction and the on premise generation of green electricity will be maximized. The planned wooden facades and lush greenery also reflect the essence of the WS Group. After all, sustainability and energy efficiency have been at the heart of everything WS does for over 40 years already.
Only adjustments to burners that had already been in operation for a long time were necessary to provide an H2-ready roller hearth furnace for Schaeffler in cooperation with furnace manufacturer Wienstroth.
High-Efficiency and ultra-low-emission burner technology made by WS Wärmeprozesstechnik GmbH will heat thyssenkrupp’s newest hot-dip galvanizing plant in Dortmund, Germany.
Link to the topic page: Regenerative burners for thyssenkrupp
On October 28, 2022, the consortium of BtX energy GmbH, e-flox GmbH and WS Reformer GmbH presented a pilot plant for the production of green hydrogen from biogas. In particular, liquid manure and other biogenic residues can be considered as feedstock for small-scale plants.
Regional value creation and security of supply are just two aspects that make the project so interesting that it is being funded by the BMWi in the large-scale BioH2Ref research project.
Link to the topic page: Green hydrogen from slurry and manure
The supply system of our research and development department is currently being extensively expanded. After completion of the work, ammonia will also be available in addition to green hydrogen to enable advanced developments.
Link to the topic page: Green hydrogen and ammonia for the WS development department
Video discussion of the current and future situation of hydrogen use in processes for heat treatment.
The research project FlexHeat2Anneal receives public funding. Together with RWT Aachen and Thyssen, WS will investigate and test the use of hydrogen as a fuel in a continuous steel strip furnace.
More Information: FlexHeat2Anneal
The economic policy positions of the VDMA 2022 have been published. On page 21 in the PDF - (Download) 26 VDMA 2022 - you will find the positions on climate and energy.
Biogas becomes hydrogen: Stefan Kaufmann focuses on future technologies.
Prof. Bonnet talks with Dr. Wünning about "Modern burner technologies for the heat treatment of steels".
Technical rule, part 2 - Thermal industry
Published: November 2020
Publisher: DVGW
Participation of WS in the 24h Hydrogen Rally, as part of the fuel cell event f-cell 2020.
Our participation shows possibilities to produce green hydrogen from biogas.
A long-term test of high-efficiency and ultra-low-emission burner technology from WS Wärmeprozesstechnik at Waelzholz demonstrated that hydrogen can be used very well as a fuel gas to heat silicon strip lines.
FlexHeat2Anneal is a funded research project investigating the flexible use of hydrogen as a fuel for continuous process lines and galvanizing lines.
Energy efficient, ceramic self-recuperative burner for radiant tubes and direct firing
