Pallet block manufacturer Baltic Block continues the modernisation of its factory

Having received support from the Central Finance and Contracting Agency (CFCA) and co-financing from Citadele bank, the woodchip pallet block manufacturer Baltic Block has purchased and started operating three modern chip processing machines within the framework of the energy efficiency project of the Climate Change Financial Instrument (CCFI). The total investments of the project amount to 1,897 million euros and Baltic Block expects that this will not only raise business efficiency, but will also increase its competitiveness on export markets.

In order to decrease the consumption of heat energy, the company has purchased an extension and recuperator for the existing Stela chip belt dryer, as well as two water suppression presses or mechanical chip wringers.

“Baltic Block has always been practising business that is orientated towards energy efficiency and sustainability. This project was mainly aimed at decreasing the consumption of heat energy in the production of pressed pallet blocks. By installing an extension for the dryer, we have raised the efficiency coefficient by approx. 30 %, resulting in more economic use of energy resources and a drop in energy costs,” Andis Šķēle, Director of Baltic Block, says about the new processing facilities.

In order to manufacture durable woodchip pallet blocks, chips with material moisture percentage that does not exceed 2% are required. Previously moisture treatment was only carried out by drying, whereas now the processing process has integrated two chip wringer rolls that press water out of the raw material, as it passes through. The current technological improvements allow Baltic Block to process raw material with a moisture percentage that usually amounts to 50%, bringing it down to 2% in just 20 minutes.

“At the same time, the new recuperation system ensures secondary use of energy resources. It makes it possible to reuse the warm air produced and discharged during the drying process, thus, by retaining the current production capacity, the company may dry a significantly larger amount of chips or consume less heat, reducing the impact on the environment,” Andis Šķēle reveals.

According to the company’s energy efficiency forecast for the year, it is expected to save heat energy in the amount of 14,000 MWh (megawatt hours) or approx. 300,000 euros.