Substrates are materials that supply nutrients to enable the solid growth of young plants. Due to increasing world population and other global trends such as climate change, the substrate market has substantial growth prospects with demand expected to double between the years 2017 to 2030*. Wood fiber used as a substrate is experiencing even greater growth, with forecasts predicting over a 400% increase by 2030*.
* Source: estimated by Wageningen University, The Netherlands.
Even though peat remains the most important component for substrates due to its excellent characteristics for plant growth, it is unfortunately not environmentally friendly for two main reasons: its harvesting endangers the ecosystems for plants and animals on the peatlands and its utilization releases high quantities of CO2. Peatlands cover just 3% of the Earth’s land surface, but store twice as much carbon as the world’s forests combined. Therefore, there are several ongoing projects and actions for their protection and restoration.
On the other hand, wood fiber is an excellent, sustainable complement and alternative to peat for plant-growing media for all types and sizes of plants and addresses environmental concerns and regulations.
Thomas Kaiser, Director, ANDRITZ Wood Fiber Substrate Team says, “Wood fiber substrates are increasing in consumption among producers, both professional and home gardening enthusiasts as they provide similar properties to peat, including structure for root growth and aeration. However, handling of the wood fiber substrate must be adjusted when compared to peat, for example, when watering.
“Most importantly, wood fiber is from a renewable source and is a much more sustainable option when compared to peat.”
ANDRITZ Substrate Pressafiner
To cope with the increased demand for wood fiber substrates, ANDRITZ has developed technology designed specifically to produce tailor-made substrates according to customer demand. Utilizing its vast experience in wood refining in the pulp, paper, and panelboard industries, the company has launched two new fiberizing machines: Substrate Pressafiner and Substrate Refiner, which can cover the complete range of end products required for substrate demand.
Enrico Fuser, Senior Sales Manager, ANDRITZ Wood Fiber Substrate Team says, “ANDRITZ has decades of experience, know-how, and technologies in wood fiber production and with our two new substrate production machines we are able to engineer and control the morphologies of wood fibers to suit customers´ demands in both the professional and home gardening sectors.
“These two new products are energy efficient and can be adjusted during operation to produce ready-for-market wood fibers at the desired quality. Both machines can be controlled with a touch screen and operator friendly visualization allows selection and fast adjustment of process parameters:"
Enrico Fuser
Senior Sales Manager, ANDRITZ Wood Fiber Substrate
ANDRITZ Substrate Refiner
Christoph Leitner
Sales Manager, ANDRITZ Wood Fiber Substrate
ANDRITZ has the capability to supply customers with further technologies such as established preparation of various raw materials, including cleaning, separating, and size reduction as well as the further treatment of wood fiber in drying and baling.
“With our long-term process knowledge and game-changing technologies, we have made it our aim to be a global, full line solution provider and partner to our customers in the substrate industry. Starting from special raw materials up to market-compliant products, we can supply technology according to all specific needs,” says Christoph Leitner, Sales Manager, ANDRITZ Wood Fiber Substrate Team. “Our innovative spirit in combination with our ability to supply individual, all-in-one solutions, our customers can be assured of consistent high-quality production and low energy costs.
“With our latest innovations for the wood fiber substrate industry, we are delighted to be creating growth that really matters to our customers.”
ANDRITZ Wood Fiber Substrate started as one of the winning projects within ANDRITZ Ventures, a dedicated corporate innovation and start-up arm within the group with a vision to become the technology leader in their specific industries.
A clear confirmation of the effectiveness of the ANDRITZ Ventures approach and program is the selection of ANDRITZ Wood Fiber Substrate products Pressafiner and Refiner to be shown as part of Innovation Lab Austria at the World EXPO 2025 in Japan.
The Substrate Pressafiner is robust and designed for a long service life. It offers outstanding fiber quality that is reproduced from season to season. Based on a slow rotating fiberizing screw (100 rpm), the Pressafiner is built for middle and coarse fiber qualities production.
The Substrate Refiner is based on a quick rotating rotor (1,500 rpm) and requires clean raw material to produce a very broad range of homogenous wood fiber qualities.
ANDRITZ uses flexible single-disc refining, which is easy to operate and maintain.
ANDRITZ pressurized refining systems are designed to produce the best fiber quality at low energy demand.
Worldwide service for panelboard industries. ANDRITZ is the leading supplier of systems, equipment, and services to the global panelboard industry. Services are provided through a worldwide network of technical and field service specialists. ANDRITZ offers rebuilds, spare and wear parts, upgrades, and on-site services for equipment from virtually any OEM.
ANDRITZ provides services for paper mill production equipment, such as screw presses, disc filters, refiners, and conveying equipment, regardless of the original equipment manufacturer.
Having specialized tools and equipment is important for any technology supplier. But, having the knowledgeable, experienced people to provide service is even more important.
In order to hit the production “sweet spot” more consistently, MDF panel maker, Pfleiderer, decided to do things differently at its plant in Baruth, Germany. ANDRITZ appreciated the challenge of coming up with a tailor-made solution, featuring a range of new designs that created possibly the most advanced refiner-feeding system in the industry.
