Hekotek to win the Russian market: new order from Siberia for pellet plant

November 2009 AS Hekotek (Estonia) and Novoeniseysk LKhK (Russia, Krasnoyarsk area) signed an agreement on construction of a pellet plant with sawmilling wastes to be used as a raw material. The plant is to be launched summer 2010.

Today Novoeniseysk LKhK is one of the largest sawmilling and woodworking enterprises in Russia with annual output making up 500 thousand cubic meters of sawn timber. There is also a line for fiberboard production from sawmilling wastes (20 mln sq. meters per year). Currently part of the sawmilling wastes is to be used for pellet production.  It is explained by both reduced fiberboard sales markets (an advanced fiberboard mill is to be launched in the region this year) and increased demand for pellets all over the world and in Russia, in particular.

We asked Alari Roosi, Hekotek project manager, about order from Russia.

Today Hekotek has delivered several pellet plants in Russia. Does the current plant significantly differ from the ones already operating in Russia?

Right, it is not the first time Hekotek has been a general contractor in realization of projects on construction of pellet plants in Russia. As a rule within the framework of a project we deliver our machinery as well. Thus, the delivery set for Novoeniseysk LKhK includes Hekotek conveyer systems and solutions for storing granules. Besides, there will be a mill and presses produced by CPM Europe (the Netherlands) with capacity reaching 4.5 ton/ h. Thus, annual plant capacity is to make up 30 thousand ton of pellets.

Earlier while designing pellet factories Hekotek used Andritz presses (Denmark), however, this time both Hekotek and customer chose CPM presses that are more productive (Andritz press – 3.5 ton/h, CPM press – 4.5 ton/h).

It is also worth mentioning that it is the first Hekotek working experience with CPM and we hope that it will be successful one. Moreover effective cooperation with new suppliers will allow us to offer our customers different solutions in future depending on their requirements.

Does the project presuppose capacity expansion?

Hekotek concept on pellet plant construction (both with Andritz and CPM) includes a possibility of capacity expansion by the definite limit. As for DOK Enisey, for example, we considered possibility of plant expansion up to 3 lines with total plant capacity making up 10.5 ton/h.

Within this project we can speak about 2 lines due to more efficient CPM presses. As a result the plant can produce 9 ton/h – annual output reaching 70 thousand tons. However, currently we are speaking about one line to be installed.

Why, in your opinion, was Hekotek chosen as a supplier?

During my work I had a chance to attend different mills in Russia, including those where machinery was purchased from different suppliers. Despite high quality of the machinery bought, sometimes plant was far from operating smoothly as some details were not taken into consideration at once. Thus, it took more time and costs to start-up the plant.

Whereas Hekotek offers a complete project – complex solutions – and guarantees that the factory will operate according to the requirements written in the agreement. Thoroughly chosen machinery influences the work of the plant in general and first of all quality of the finished products (humidity, strength, fraction, etc).

Moreover, we had experience in the Krasnoyarsk area – cooperation that left the customer DOK Enisey pleased with the results. I think it was also an important criterion for choosing Hekotek as a machinery supplier within this project. Thus, by choosing Hekotek a customer chooses maximum effectiveness (from the point of product quality and economy).

Is delivery of pellet plants to Russia a perspective trend for Hekotek?

It is already 3 years from the first Hekotek delivery of pellet plant to Russia (DOK Enisey). Today, besides Novoeniseysk LKhK, 3 plants are operating and one is in the delivery stage. So it is the 5th project realized by Hekotek in Russia.

All in all pellets present an interesting and perspective market. It is green energy that is becoming more and more popular worldwide every year, which in its turn leads to the increased demand for pellet plants. Currently Hekotek focuses on two main trends: sawmilling machinery and pellet factories with specific weight increasing for the latter.