The German State of Bavaria has awarded its biennial Bavarian Energy Prize for outstanding achievements in the field of energy to Kurtz Ersa for its project ‘Chemical-free recycling of EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) material by RF (Radiofrequency) fusion technology’.
Kurtz Ersa Wave Foamer
The Wave Foamer. Photo: Kurtz Ersa
As well as being given the main prize from eight categories, the German firm walked away with two other prizes - one in the category Energy Efficiency in Industrial Processes and Production, the other in Energy Efficiency Networks.
Kurtz Ersa CEO Rainer Kurtz said: “Fusing particle foams by electromagnetic waves is highly promising and revolutionises the production of moulded parts. The award of the main prize is both an honour and an incentive at the same time, and a welcome component of our ambitious sustainability programme.”
The fusion of particle foams using highly efficient radiofrequency technology has begun something of a revolution in sustainable processing. When compared with manufacturing techniques that utilise steam, the process can save as much as 90% in terms of energy expenditure.
Through the elimination of steam generation equipment - formerly a necessity - it has become possible to drastically improve the carbon footprint of particle foam manufacturers.
The machine comes equipped with a fully electric drive and optimal fusion is achieved through the use of electromagnetic waves in the radiofrequency range.
In addition, new materials and biodegradable materials can be processed in a way that was not previously feasible in standard machines due to the high pressures required. The main advantage of the RF fusion technology is that only by mechanical shredding can the particle foam material be returned to the circular economy.
The Wave Foamer is 100% reusable, compared with the EPS in using the steam process whereby only a maximum of 20% recycled material can be reused.
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