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ONE STOP SHOP FOR BRIQUETTINGThe two world leaders in briquetting, RUF & C.F. Nielsen, join forces

LIGNA Preview, 05.02.2019 Press release: ONE STOP SHOP FOR BRIQUETTINGContact persons in terms of publications: Nico Nuscheler, marketing@brikettieren.de, +49 8268 9090 18Maria Thomsen, mt@cfnielsen.com, +45 98337400

BRIQUETTINGEXPERTS

At LIGNA 2019, RUF Briquetting Systems and C.F. Nielsen will jointly present their briquetting solutions as one company for the first time. Following the merger of the two world market leaders, customers will be able to see the versatile range of applications at the LIGNA trade fair. The team will be on hand to demonstrate their product range and discuss the many benefits offered by the comprehensive briquetting solutions. Visit them at LIGNA 2019, Hannover, (Hall 25 Booth J49) from 27th – 31st May 2019.

The merger of the companiesAs the world market leader in hydraulic briquetting presses, RUF has successfully installed their systems in to more than 100 countries. A significant factor is that the family-owned business has an extensive range of briquetting solutions to cater for most organic and inorganic raw materials. The acquisition of C. F. Nielsen by RUF in 2018 is a significant step for both companies. It will ensure their combined continued growth, extensions to the product range, expansion into new markets and give greater benefits to customers and prospects.

With the merger RUF is expanding its product range with various important technologies in this industry – the mechanical briquetting and the briquetting with Extruder, also known as Shimada technology. Roland Ruf, Director at RUF, explained about the complementary benefits “We are both family businesses with a very similar philosophy, culture and method of operating. We both attach great importance to being innovative through our

Ruf Maschinenbau GmbH & Co.KG | Tel. +49 8268 9090 20 info@briquetting.com

www.briquetting.comC.F. Nielsen A/S | Tel. +45 98337400

sales@cfnielsen.com

www.cfnielsen.com

The whole world of briquetting covered by RUF & C.F. Nielsen

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satisfied employees and presenting ourselves as reliable partners on the market. With this in mind, we will collectively drive new advances for our customers and make use of synergy effects.”

Mogens Slot Knudsen, Director at C.F. Nielsen, went on to explain the significant potential for growth through the interna-tional RUF sales network: “C.F. Nielsen has developed a range of new products and applications in the recent years, and with this the international market support provided by RUF will help to achieve significant growth by getting access to this markets.”

The world of briquetting, under one roof – Benefits to the customerThe merger enables the companies to provide the com-plete spectrum of briquetting technologies, hydraulic and mechanical, plus the newly acquired extrusion briquetting technology. In close cooperation of both companies and their international sales network, the client’s requirements can now be met regardless of de-pending raw material, necessary throughput volume, the production facilities and conditions etc.

In order to provide the best possible briquetting solution, RUF and C.F. Nielsen are now able to offer the widest selection of briquetting systems available on the market. The experienced briquetting experts in both companies can give advice in order to check feasibilities, select products or to design a customized briquetting solution. Their combined experience of more than 100 years and 5,500 briquetting machines sold worldwide underlines their significant experience in this sector.

The innovation capability of RUF and C.F. Nielsen will be increased through their joint knowledge, experience and expertise to deliver innovation, concepts and technologies.Either, to sell briquettes on the consumer market or to use them for industrial heating, the companies can supply suitable solutions for consumer- or industrial briquetting. The consumer market offers various marketing opportunities. The rec-tangular “RUF Briquettes” are, as well as the C.F. Nielsen’s machines producing round briquettes, the leading products on the consumer market.

With throughput capacities of 30 to 3.500 kg/h, RUF & C.F. Nielsen are able to offer the right machinery for a complete range of applications, including wood, agricultural and other biomass raw material. Facilities in both companies enable a test pressing based on sample material to check feasibilities or the briquette quality.

From left to right: Roland Ruf and Wolfgang Ruf, co-owners and managing directors of RUF Briquetting Systems, signed the acquisition agreement along with Mogens S. Knudsen und Hen-ning M. Larsen, the previous owners of C.F. Nielsen (taking effect on july 1th 2018). All of them are happy about the fact that two companies, which share the same philosophy and values, are under one roof now.

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Hydraulic Briquetting TechnologyThe Briquetting Technologies

The hydraulic briquetting technology embodies the foundation of RUF’s product portfolio.

Mr. Hans Ruf, founder of the company, invented the “mould changing system”, based on hydraulic press technology. With this, briquettes are produced in a rec-tangular shape. This innovative edge in technology gave the company a decisive advantage and ensured in the following time their leading position in the briquetting sector.Through close cooperation with their customers, RUF went on to develop broad knowledge in the construc-tion and production of individual, customized briquet-ting solutions.RUF specialized in the design and manufac-ture of briquetting systems for wood, bio-mass, metal and numerous other materials.

RUFs wood or biomass presses achieve an output of 30 to 1.050 kg/h. Along with wood in the form of sawdust, wood shavings and woodchips (up to 30 x 30 mm), other materials such as cotton, paper, miscanthus, tobacco and numerous other materials can also be briquetted.The basic wood press series, RUF LIGNUM, with an optimized standard design, enables throughput rates up to 1.050 kg/h depending on the material. All RUF LIGNUM models guarantee energy efficiency thanks to their innovative RUF hydraulic system.

Briquette sizes: LIGNUM series: 150x60, 240x70 mm RUF 100 - RUF 1100+: 150x60, 150x70, 150x75, 240x70, 240x80 mm

Capacity: LIGNUM series: 410-1.050 kg/h RUF 100 - RUF 1100+: 130-1.050 kg/h

Other briquetting press models for different applications are also available. The RUF Briklet press for wood and biomass, presented on the LIGNA 2017, produces small size briquettes (”Briklets”) with a diameter of 30mm and reaches a throughput rate up to 300 kg/h. This makes the conveying of briquettes into heating plants with an automatic feed possible. For small throughput rates, the SZ1 + provides an entry level model for compres-sing wood and suitable for very small capacities 30 – 60 kg/hour.

Benefits from the Hydraulic Briquetting TechnologyRUF is known as the world market leader in manufacturing hydraulic briquetting presses, which produce high quality wood briquettes in rectangular shape. These briquettes provide customers with a great marketing opportunity as they stand for premium quality and excellent burning characteristics.The hydraulic briquetter is a compact system, which is especially beneficial if space is a consideration. RUF briquetting machines can be quickly and easily incorporated directly into the existing production lines. The wood and biomass series make a fully automated 24-hour operation possible, while processing the residual material at a definitive and constant-ly high level of quality and density. Thus, the RUF briquettes comply with the EN 14961-3, which specifies the quality of briquettes.Moreover, the same briquette machine can be used for different qualities of raw materials. Capacities start at 30 kg/h up to 1.050 kg/h.

RUF LIGNUM R4, Capacity for wood: approx. 590 kg/h | ~ 690 Briquettes per hour

RUF Briklet, Capacity for wood: approx. 300 kg/h | ~ approx. 16.000 Briklets per hour

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The Briquetting TechnologiesMechanical Briquetting TechnologyThe mechanical presses are the cornerstone of C.F. Nielsen’s product range.

A mechanical press is designed as an eccentric press. A continuously rotating eccentric shaft connected to a plun-ger, presses the raw material through a conic die. In me-chanical presses the counter pressure required can only be adjusted by installing a die with a different conicity or different length. C.F. Nielsen offers a wide range of dies for different applications.

The range of mechanical briquetting presses includes 9 models from 200 kg per hour up to 3.500 kg per hour.

The BP6510 is the most sold press and has an advanced design and is the top line in briquetting. The double fee-ding system guarantees high capacity, regardless of the density of the raw material. The press is equipped with an advanced control system that supports remote access via the Internet.

Briquette size: Ø90, 100, 75x75 mmCapacity: 1100-2300kg/h

Extruder Briquetting Technology:The new BPE Shimada Extruder Briquetting Press can produce biomass briquettes with higher compaction, but it also has a high-energy consumption for the process com-pared to mechanical presses. After feeding, the material is conveyed to the briquette forming head by a revolving screw shaft driven by an electrical motor. The screw shaft is the main part of biomass briquette press. The distance becomes increasingly smaller along the screw shaft with the decreasing screw distance, the material endures higher and higher pressure resulting in a hole in the center of the briquette.Due to the high density, the briquettes are usually used for consumer logs with a long burning time. The high density also makes the briquettes suitable for carbonization.Briquette size: 65x65 mm with a length of 200 mm. Other sizes are optionalCapacity: 500kg/h

Benefits from the Mechanical Briquetting TechnologyC.F. Nielsen is recognized as the world leading manufacturer of mechanical briquetting machines. The presses are based on the latest briquetting technology combined with the best design in the industry. The largest and most popular presses have double infeed, which combined with an advanced PLC control system gives the presses the highest capacity of any mechanical briquetting press. All presses can be accessed remotely from any location around the world. The presses are of sturdy construction and can be operated on a 24/7 basis year-round. The presses can be used both for the production of high-density consumer logs and for industrial fuel for district heating and power plants. Lately, many presses have been sold for agricultural waste and due to higher wear of this type of raw material, die systems have been developed for this purpose. They supply briquetting solutions for production of industrial type of briquettes for use in big boilers at heating plants etc. and log type briquettes to be used in fireplaces and ovens by private consumers.The capacities start at 200 kg/h up to 3.500 kg/h per press.

The mechanical press BP6510, Capacity: 1.100-2.300 kg/h, below: installation of Holzindustrie Torgau, Germany

BPE Shimada, Capacity: approx. 500 kg/h

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BPE Shimada, Capacity: approx. 500 kg/h

RUF Briquetting Systems

C.F. Nielsen

New products and innovations

Hydraulic briquetting presses – 25 percent improved efficiencyRUF Mechanical Engineering optimized the hydraulics of its wood and biomass systems. The new RUF Briquetting series LIGNUM (for wood) and RUF 500-800 (for biomass) require 25 percent less energy and produce 15 percent more briquettes. In order to achieve this, engineers and technicians from the company have improved the efficiency of the hydraulics. The improvements lead to a more efficient oil flow which results in a reduction of the resistance and the heat generation in the system.

SBP-9 Star PressThe latest addition is the Star Press. It is a new revolutionary concept in briquet-ting and the worlds’ largest briquetting press. The design of the press is based on a radial principle of movement – similar to the design of a radial combustion en-gine, a “star” engine, or an old type of airplane engine which drives 9 briquetting stations. The first press will be installed in 2019. The press produces briquettes with diameters of Ø40-60 and can with Ø60 briquettes reach a capacity of up to 5.000 kg/h.

Wear resistant option for briquetting presses – Extension of the lifetime of wear resistant partsEngineers from RUF found an innovative way to offer a wear-resistant version of the briquetting systems. With this, depending on the material, the lifetime of wear parts is considerably extended. The RUF-specialists developed amongst others a wear resistant bushing in the mould changing system and a press stamp, which is easy to service. This enables less maintenance and therefore a reduced maintenance effort. Materials such as rough woodchips and agricultural material, where the material contains abrasive material, make the wear resistant version an obvious choice. Ple-ase contact the RUF-specialists if you would like to get more information.

Upgrade of the extrusion linesIn 2016 C.F. Nielsen acquired the production and marketing rights for the BPE Shimada Extrusion Press. Since the acquisi-tion, the press has been redesigned with a new die system. A new PLC control system has been added, so today the press has the same quality level as the other C.F. Nielsen presses. The first presses have been sold for producing high-density consumer logs.

Developments for consumer and industrial charcoal based on waste The acquisition of the BPE Shimada Extrusion Press made it possible for C.F. Niel-sen to enter the market for charcoal briquettes for consumer logs. C.F. Nielsen has established co-operation with partners for shredding, milling and drying. C.F. Nielsen is also partnering with manufacturers of carbonization equipment. In 2018 C.F. Nielsen received a grant for developing a bio coal that can replace coal and coke. The development is with a large international customer, who is pro-ducing manganese alloys. C.F. Nielsen has set up a full test plant with shredding, drying, briquetting and carbonization and tests will be made both with wood and agriculturally based raw materials.

Charcoal briquettes

SBP-9 Star Press, Capacity: 5.000 kg/h

3D animation of the wear resistant bushing in the mould changing form

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Short presentation of case studies, completed projects & current developments

Although C.F. Nielsen is selling two types of briquetting presses, it is worth remembering, that none of the presses are sold as stand-alone units. They are normally delivered for special briquetting solutions as total production lines. The most sold lines are for:

• Consumer briquetting • Industrial briquetting • Agricultural briquetting

In the production lines C.F. Nielsen presses are supported with a range of equipment including silos, saws, extraction equipment, packaging lines, mixers, dosing equipment for additives etc. For total projects involving equipment from third parties C.F. Nielsen offers the concept CFN Engineering. Below you can see a short presentation of some of the projects.

Consumer logs100.000 TONS/PER YEAR – CONSUMER BRIQUETTES (LOGS)In 2013 C.F. Nielsen delivered the largest and most efficient consumer briquetting line in the world to HIT Torgau, Germany, consisting of 12 BP6500 Briquetting presses, automatic saws with check weighing systems with a capacity up to 120.000 tons per year.

Industrial briquettes for power and heatMultiple sales of this concept, with most presses installed in Sweden. The plants operate without supervision and typically consists of 1 to 3 presses each producing 1.2 tons per hour.

MDF solutionsThe waste from MDF, especially the dust has become a challenge for many of the ma-nufacturers. C.F. Nielsen offers a solution that can overcome the dust problem, and simultaneously turn waste into a valuable fuel, that is easily stored, transported and used in industrial boilers. One customer Hume Doors in Australia has bought a total of 15 briquetting presses from C.F. Nielsen for this purpose.

Straw briquettes for biogasWorking with a partner, C.F. Nielsen have developed a technology where Nielsen can use briquettes from straw in a biogas plant. As a result of the briquetting process, a small steam explosion is created, and the cell structure is ope-ned making access to bacteria and thus being able to increase biogas production. See also www.kineticbiofuel.com

left: Straw briquettes for biogas, right: Pucks used for cooking in Africa

C.F. Nielsen

MDF briquettes for industrial use

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RUF Briquetting Systems

RUF LIGNUM series – establishment on the global wood briquetting marketAs a highlight at LIGNA 2017 trade fair, the new RUF LIGNUM series for the briquetting of wood residues was introduced to the visitors. Now in 2019, RUF can already confirm the huge success of the optimized LIGNUM series with the model receiving a high demand on the global wood briquetting mar-ket. Amongst others, Russia and the eastern European countries have indicated that there has been a high demand for premium quality briquetting presses in a standard design.In particular the standard design of this series satisfied the demand of a cost-effective model, that guarantees a perfect solution for basic briquetting needs with a requirement in high briquette quality.The new wood briquetting series features an in-novative, improved hydraulic system, with 25% higher energy efficiency. This means for the users: higher throughput rates, whilst lower power consumption. The imple-mented briquette length control, adjusts the density and the length of the briquettes.

Agricultural wasteIn Africa where there are two basic markets for briquettes, Nielsen have sold numerous plants for utilizing agricultural wastes:• Large capacity plants for producing briquettes for power and heat in larger factories and power plants – including a large plant to utilize Del Monte’s pineapple waste in Kenya for boilers and drying of agricultural products.• Small plants producing small briquettes for cooking stoves – A Village Concept has been developed based on a small press together with shredding and drying equipment.

CFN EngineeringC.F. Nielsen is often asked to provide the expertise in regard to the design of complete production plants. As a result, Nielsen is now able to offer the concept CFN Engineering. The concept includes complete briquetting solutions for wood and agriculturally based raw materials. It includes everything from chipping, grinding, drying, handling to briquetting and packaging. CFN cooperates with different partners and the concept is only offered in selected markets.

left: the Village Concept, including: shredder, rotation sieve, hammermill. Cyclone, flash dryer, conveyor, BP2010 and cooling line

Different sizes of the rectangular wood briquettes, below: RUF LIGNUM Classic, Capacity for wood: ap-prox. 410 kg/h | ~ 480 Briquettes per hour

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Headquarter RUF Briquetting Systems in Zaisertshofen, Germany Headquarter C.F. Nielsen in Baelum, Denmark

RUF, located in Zaisertshofen, was founded by Hans Ruf in 1969. What started out with a press for making briquettes from tree bark has over the years developed into a multifaceted global business. Today his sons Roland and Wolfgang Ruf run the com-pany.The company manufactures briquetting machines at its own factory in Germany. By manufacturing the components and pro-ducing the machines themselves, RUF is in a position to react quickly and flexibly to the customers‘ needs.

RUF as global actor in briquettingAround 150 employees worldwide develop, produce and distri-bute highly innovative briquetting systems on a modular basis for wood, metal and other residual materials. Over the years RUF has sold more than 4,500 machines in more than 100 countries and carried out numerous press tests on a huge range of materials.

The C.F. Nielsen history spans over 129 years with founder Carl Frederik Nielsen starting at the local forge in Bælum, Denmark in 1889. The production of cast iron was the early stepping stone to building a future engineering company that today produces a variety of mechanical briquetting presses.The company has expanded considerably throughout the years and today offers several briquetting presses and solutions, with most being tailor-made to the customer’s requirements

Family owned company for more than 100 yearsC.F. Nielsen A/S continued to be fully owned by the Nielsen fami-ly until 1998, when Henning M. Larsen acquired 50% of the sha-res. Later Henning M. Larsen became full owner of the company. In 2007 Mogens Slot Knudsen and DKA Capital A/S acquired C.F. Nielsen A/S. In 2011 Henning M. Larsen and Mogens Slot Knudsen acquired all shares. In 2018 the company was acquired by RUF Briquetting Systems.

RUF Briquetting Systems C.F. Nielsen

Company profiles

The text version, including the photos will be handed out on a data carrier or can be provided by contacting us directly. Any infor-mations concerning the text and pictures, or further information about the company, technology and products can be obtained. In this case, please get in contact with the contact persons from RUF and / or C.F. Nielsen.

We would be grateful for publications. Please send copy to:Nico Nuscheler | Ruf Maschinenbau GmbH & Co.KG | Hausener Str. 101 | 8674 Zaisertshofen - Germany Maria Thomsen | C.F. Nielsen A/S | Solbjergvej 19 | 9574 Baelum - Denmark

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