Efficient Belt Drying
With the commissioning of a groundbreaking belt dryer in April 2026, Ladenburger, based in Kerkingen, Germany, modernized its pellet production.
The system, supplied by stela Laxhuber in Massing, Germany, is based on innovative RecuDry® technology and the proven BTU 1/6200/60 low-temperature belt dryer. The system is designed for a drying output of 18 metric tons per hour and features low energy consumption. With a thermal output of just 8.2 MW, the belt dryer achieves a specific heat consumption of only 450 kWh per metric ton of pellets, making it, according to the manufacturer, one of the most efficient solutions in industrial biomass drying.
“The combination of modern drying technology and optimized process control enables a significant reduction in operating costs,” explains Tobias Latein, sales manager at stela Laxhuber. At the same time, the plant makes an important contribution to sustainable and resource-efficient production.
Another key feature is the high degree of automation. The belt dryer features fully automated cleaning and control technology, as well as integrated heat recovery modules for efficient use of process heat. This significantly reduces the need for manual cleaning, thereby increasing plant availability and reducing downtime.
Ladenburger’s decision to choose stela Laxhuber was based in particular on the company’s many years of experience in the construction and operation of large-scale belt drying systems. Added to this was the plant manufacturer’s expertise in energy-efficient drying solutions. “STELA offers the best value for money,” explains Steffen Häußlein, Managing Director at Ladenburger.
As a replacement investment following fire damage, a STELA belt dryer of the type BTU 6000/19.5, featuring RecuDry® technology and a belt width of 6.2 m, went into operation in November 2023 at Holz Schiller’s headquarters in Regen, Germany. The project focused on optimizing the use of available thermal energy to make the drying process as efficient as possible and achieve high throughput. Through the intelligent integration of available energy sources and the effective recycling of process heat, pellet production capacity was increased by 25% to 50,000 metric tons per year. At the same time, the new drying solution contributes to cost-effective plant operation and resource-efficient pellet production.
Source: HOLZKURIER, Issue 27, July 2, 2026, page 31
Philipp Matzku, Effiziente Bandtrocknung
