Stable outlook Andritz

staBle outlooK

In order to compensate for the decreasing opportunities in the energy sector in 2017, heavy-weight machine and component manufacturer Andritz Kft, the Hungarian subsidiary of Andritz AG, has recently altered its product portfolio. Edina Beale reports

IN May 2015 Andritz Kft in Hungary was integrated into the Hydro business unit of its parent company, Andritz AG. This strategic change was based on the short- and long-term market data showing that 80 per cent of the products being produced in Hungary were required for the Hydro sector. While in 2016 the company had a record turnover and achieved €35.5 million, 2017 saw a fall in the market for water power stations thanks to slow development in the energy market. Unfortunately this has had a knock-on effect on Andritz Kft’s revenue too, as the company expects a €23 million turnover in 2017. In order to make up for this drop, Andritz has decided to alter its product portfolio and is aiming to increase customer satisfaction to the highest level – focusing on supplying products that meet world-class standards and increase their on-time performance. Consistent demand

The company is still producing its pioneering product, the Yankee drier cylinder for the paper industry. By replacing cast-iron with steel, Andritz has created a high-precision drying cylinder that ensures excellent drying rates at low specific costs. The product, of which Andritz manufactures 3–4 a year, allows for highly efficient drying by using special material alloys and has the ability to increase the length and diameter of the drying cylinder so that larger-sized paper can be produced.

In 2013 Andritz installed its largest on-site Yankee cylinder. This project was not only a breakthrough in the Tiszakécske plant, but for the Andritz Group as a whole. The project continues in 2017/18 as the Austrian Zellstoff Pöls AG has invested in a new paper machine for which it will need another Yankee cylinder. The product

will be manufactured by Andritz and the company will also take part in the assembly process on-site.

Andritz has also begun to manufacture other related products in the field of paper machine production. These include drying cylinders, which are used for paper drying functions for cardboard production machines. In 2017, Andritz was required to make 39 of these machines, due to be delivered in the first quarter of 2018. Plated beams have also been introduced as new products: 300 tonnes of plated beams were produced in 2017 alone and the firm expects to supply the same amount this year. Every year there is a significant and reliable customer order for lamella lines: Andritz makes 200–250,000m2 per annum on average, however in 2016 it manufactured nearly 350,000m2 .

extended portfolio

Within the Hydro sector core products include stator frames, upper/ lower brackets, rotors, bulbs and so on, but in recent years Andritz Kft has been required to produce butterfly valves and spiral casings too. At present the Hungarian firm is involved in many significant projects such as the Dnipro Water station in Ukraine, the Gouvaes power station in Portugal, the Namgang project in South Korea, and many more investments in Austria and the USA.

Since 2015 Andritz has been manufacturing floodgates and stoplogs too, currently supplying these products for projects in Pakistan and Norway. The floodgates are mainly manufactured for Andritz Charlotte to be installed in the Rock Island water station in USA, but the company delivers gates to Austria and Chile too.

Due to a strategic decision made by the parent company in the pump sector, the production of water uplifting and transporting screws has ceased and has now been replaced by spiral casings and pit liner manufacturing. Andritz will deliver and install 3+2 spiral casings and pit liners for the Kaleshwaram and Devadula water stations in India, as well as supplying 35 different sizes of pump covers.

overseas work experience

In 2017 Andritz employees had many opportunities to gain experience in installation projects in foreign countries including Austria, China and Sweden. The parent company has subsidiaries in more than 100 countries and this enables the employees to exchange ideas and become familiar with new technologies. For example, people employed by Andritz in Hungary were sent to Austria and Norway on many occasions in order to examine the installation sites for floodgates. The next opportunity will be in Brazil where, together with colleagues from Graz, Andritz Kft employees will be taking part in the finishing process for the Yankee cylinder.

exploiting resources for growth

As for the future, Andritz Kft is aiming to continue providing these opportunities for its employees. Owing to the large technological investments made in previous years, the company has all the machinery and equipment required to meet the highest quality standards worldwide. Its target now is to maximise and make the most efficient use of its infrastructure. In 2018 Andritz Kft expects its annual turnover to reach €25 million. n

V-INOX

V-INoX outlet ltd has been a very important inox & alu product (coil, strip, sheet) supplier of Andritz ltd since its establishment in 2015. This outstanding partnership is characterised by reliability and trust in quality and service. V-INoX outlet ltd is looking forward to continuing this relationship and serving Andritz with high quality raw material, allowing them to get the best possible results out of their products.