RHI AG recently announced it has invested approximately €7 million (~ $9 million) in the expansion of production capacities at the group’s Didier plant in Niederdollendorf. The new furnace (a type of shuttle kiln) and required infrastructure have recently been commissioned for operation. This investment reportedly enlarges the firing volume capacity of the shuttle kilns by 18%, thus allowing RHI to produce an additional 5,500 tons of refractory products annually for the glass industry, as well as for the environmental, energy and chemical industries.

“Growing customer demand worldwide, as well as our strategic positioning as a general supplier, made it necessary for us to expand our capacities,” said Klaus Dösinger, head of the Glass business unit. “The decision for the plant in Niederdollendorf was clear: The decisive factors were the local know-how and the decades of experience at the plant where all key products for future capacities are already being produced today.”

“We worked for 15 months with a core project team of around 10 employees and additional external partners on the new infrastructure,” said Klaus Düpre, plant manager. “Therefore, we have not only secured the existence of the plant, but have also made an important contribution to the environment. Despite the higher output, we are cutting dust and fluorine emissions in half by installing new filters, and are now far below the permitted threshold.”

For more information, visit www.rhi-ag.com.