10 years anniversary of AKW Equipment + Process Design laboratory and technical center
1 The state-of the-art technical center and laboratory, completed in 2011, has a total area of 900 m²
© AKW Apparate + Verfahren GmbH
Already more than 100 years ago, kaolin, feldspar and silica sand were produced in the area of Hirschau, in the north of Bavaria in Germany. There, AKW Equipment + Process Design was founded in April 1963 and since then has offered its services, equipment and know-how all over the world. From the beginning, the integration of a technical center to the engineering and manufacturing capabilities of the company had been seen as a key differentiation factor. It also showed the company’s conviction as to how important test works were for the customers and industries served.
In 2005, AKW Equipment + Process Design moved to the new company headquarters located at Dienhof 26 in Hirschau, while the technical laboratory and warehouse remained at the old location. In 2010, the construction of a new technical center and associated warehouse began. After completion in 2011, the move into the new building at Dienhof 17 in Hirschau took place over the summer period.
2 Over the past 10 years 1000 test works have already been carried out with samples from 80 different countries and around 70 different mineral types
© AKW Apparate + Verfahren GmbH
On a total area of almost 900 m², the state-of the-art technical center and laboratory is equipped with 25 different kind of test rigs, constituting of different equipment and process units, able to simulate different production processes. Thanks to the wide range of test options, the company can offer to the customers tailor-made technical solutions and developments. Only an optimally coordinated process sequence guarantees the best possible productivity of the process unit.
“Just few engineering companies offer such comprehensive and extensive test capabilities. I believe this is important and key, as this is the first milestone in a project opportunity. Very often all begins here in the technical laboratory with small lab scale test works,” stated Ulrich Peuser, Head of the Technical Laboratory at AKW Equipment + Process Design. Beside the process equipment, the center is also equipped with a set of analytical equipment and is therefore able to carry out extensive analysis for a wide range of raw materials.
Over the past ten years, an impressive number of around 1000 test works have been processed by the team. The company’s statistics show that about 260 t of material from 80 different countries all-over the world were delivered to the technical center for trials. The extraordinarily comprehensive product range the company received for various tests, covering around 70 different mineral types, ranges from various sand types up to kaolin, slags, ores and minerals and much more.
With the longstanding experience and unique know-how, the high-qualified and specially trained staff is executing a large range of test orders and – after the planning and engineering is done – is supporting the further steps of mounting and commissioning supervisions, as well as service of the supplied equipment and plants at the customers’ site – worldwide.
“We have a unique tool, which we master to the maximum. It gives the necessary confidence to our customers to start new business as through test work we also commit on performance guarantees. In this way, we bring new ideas, new concepts and new business to life with the best results,” stated Thibaut Richard, General Manager at AKW Equipment + Process Design.
