In February 2025, the German biogas specialist WELTEC BIOPOWER has successfully completed the commissioning and handover of a dairy RNG (Renewable Natural Gas / biomethane) plant in Barron County, Wisconsin. After just four months of construction, the dairy farm produces 2.36 million standard cubic meters of RNG/biometha- ne annually (86,600 MMBTU per year). This RNG, above gas grid specifications, is processed using advanced membrane-based gas upgrading technology to deliver 272 standard cubic meters per hour (159 SCFM), which is compressed, bottled and transported to a gas grid injection point. This strongly carbon-negative RNG is drawn off the gas grid elsewhere, significantly enhancing the sustainability of the transportation fleets of the buyers.
Sustainable agricultural practices
The farm currently has a herd of 3,400 cattle, primarily Holsteins along with a select number of Swiss cows. The owners previously operated an AD plant producing electricity for on-site use, so the concept was not new for them. “For years, we have been utilising cattle manure to generate biogas, meeting our farm’s electricity and heating needs while also fertilising our fields with digestate,” said the owner. “With the new RNG facility, we have expanded our digestate utilisation on a larger scale and now store it in our dedicated lagoon for optimal land application.”
Four months construction time thanks to modular design
WELTEC BIOPOWER constructed three 6850 cubic meter (1.8m USG) duplex stainless steel digesters for the new biomethane plant near Rice Lake: “We constructed the tanks using a ring-by-ring assembly approach, with the final step involving the installation of a gas-tight membrane storage roof,” explains responsible WELTEC BIOPOWER North America COO Carsten Hesselfeld. With a diameter of 31.48 meters, the 8.8 meter high, insulated stainless steel tanks each have a gas storage volume of 3320 cubic meters. “Our modular construction method, tried and tested worldwide over the past 20+ years, contributed significantly to the short construction time of the plant,” emphasises Hesselfeld. The plant is designed to process 207,000 metric tonnes of cattle manure annually (150,000 USG per day), with some flexibility to incorporate future increases in herd size.
Efficient biomass processing and energy output
The facility employs a streamlined process flow, with manure fed from the barns into a 1,543 cubic meter (408,000 USG) stainless steel pre-storage tank before being pumped into the digesters. The digestion system has a retention time of 34 days, before the biogas is upgraded in a membrane-based system (specified, purchased and integrated into the central SCADA system under WELTEC BIOPOWER contract) into high-quality RNG at gas grid specifications. Digestate is pumped from the RNG plant to the existing lagoons. WELTEC BIOPOWER designed and supplied key components for the project, including digesters, a prefabricated containerised pump-block system, heating and boiler containers and a prefabricated factory-tested control container to simplify works on site, enhance the fast construction time and ensure optimal operational efficiency.
Savings through CO2 equivalents and tax benefits
By utilising biomethane as a fuel source, the dairy achieves substantial environmental benefits, reducing carbon emissions by approximately 11,200 tonnes of CO2 equivalents annually. Additionally, the plant owners capitalise on financial incentives such as RNG tax credits and fuel tax allowances. This project (particularly the strongly negative RNG, the fast construction time and the relatively low CAPEX for such a project) is a great example of the huge potential that still exists for biogas/RNG development at some of the smaller dairy farms in the USA. Projects like this have a key part to play in de-carbonising North American agriculture, and de-carbonising US truck fleets. With the successful implementation of this dairy RNG project, WELTEC BIOPOWER continues to drive innovation, quality and cost-effective solutions for dairy RNG developers, as well as continuously developing market-leading expertise in the co-digestion market.
Flottweg SE is strengthening its management team and appointing Dipl.-Ing. Jörg Lengenfelder as a new member of the Management Board. Mr Lengenfelder joined the Flottweg SE Executive Board team on 1 November 2024, assuming responsibility as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO). In this role, he will work with Dr. Kersten Christoph Link as CEO and Klaus Huber as CFO to further develop the company and drive forward its technological and operational focus.
Jörg Lengenfelder studied mechanical engineering at the Technical University in Nuremberg, specialising in production technology. He then held various management positions in the greater Munich and Erlangen area before running his own company for several years. His focus there included the development and production of automation systems for medium-sized production companies. In recent years, Mr. Lengenfelder worked in a managerial capacity for the Netzsch Group. As a member of the Executive Board and the global management team, he was responsible for operations at the plants in Germany, Spain, Brazil, India and China, among others. In addition to strengthening the supply chain, several new construction and expansion projects were realised under his direction.
As of January 1, 2025, Ferrum Packaging AG, leading manufacturer of can seamers for the beverage industry, and KHS GmbH are to take over H.F. Meyer Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG. H.F. Meyer has particular strengths in specific canning technology segments, including can turners and rinsers and vacuum bridges, and will contribute its specialist expertise to the merger that perfectly supplements Ferrum’s and KHS’ areas of competence. It will remain an independent company within the consortium.
Beat Bühlmann, chairman of the board of directors at the Ferrum Group, emphasises the added value of the takeover for the customers of the participating companies. “H.F. Meyer’s special expertise gives us a significant wealth of know-how that we’ll be able to apply to joint further developments. The integral approach and pooled knowledge of the three companies will enable us to provide even more precise, customized equipment and solutions from a single source.”
Targeted expansion of technological expertise
By integrating H.F. Meyer into the Ferrum Group, a competence center for canning technology will be formed that is specialized in the development of innovative systems and solutions. “The aim is to supply the best canning lines in the world. In working together with H.F. Meyer and Ferrum, the efficiency and quality of our plant machinery will continuously increase,” says Martin Resch, managing director of the KHS Group.
The mechanical engineering company from Schleswig-Holstein, with a second facility in Bavaria, employs around 100 people, with whom H.F. Meyer has earned itself an excellent reputation over the years as a supplier of canning technology to the beverage industry. “We’ll of course continue to be a reliable partner to our customers and shall meet all obligations up to and including service with the customary quality,” adds Bühlmann.
The Supervisory Board of Symrise AG has appointed Walter Ribeiro to the Executive Board with effect from September 15, 2024. Ribeiro will take over the management of the Taste, Nutrition & Health (TN&H) segment, which was previously headed by CEO Dr. Jean-Yves Parisot. At the same time, Dr. Jörn Andreas steps down as a member of the Executive Board of Symrise AG as of September 30, 2024 to pursue his professional career outside Symrise. Until a successor is decided, Dr. Parisot will temporarily lead the Scent & Care (S&C) segment, for which Dr. Andreas was previously responsible.
Michael König, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Symrise AG: “With Walter Ribeiro, another internationally experienced manager from within the company’s own ranks has been appointed to the Executive Board. As global head of our Food & Beverage division, Walter Ribeiro has played a significant role in Symrise’s successful transformation into a leading provider in the field of nutrition in recent years. With him, the TN&H segment will be in the very best hands.”
At the same time, Dr. Jörn Andreas has decided to leave Symrise on his own request to continue his career outside the company. With his departure, Dr. Jean-Yves Parisot will temporarily take over the management of the Scent & Care segment. The search for a successor for the management of the segment has already been initiated.
Ribeiro (53) comes from Brazil and has lived with his family in Holzminden, the headquarters of Symrise AG, for many years. He has spent almost his entire professional career at Symrise in various management positions in Germany and abroad, including cross-segment management positions. Most recently, Ribeiro was responsible for the global Food & Beverage division in the Taste, Nutrition & Health segment.
