THINK RED | The Vogelsang Magazine vogelsang.info Edition 6 | 2020 T H E V O G E L S A N G M A G A Z I N E HEAVY RAIN SO WHAT? VOGELSANG PUMPS. MORE DEMANDING THAN EXPECTED: RAINWATER Heavy rain is overloading sewage systems and treatment plants more and more frequently. > Page 16 BIG NEWS FROM THE WEST A portrait of the Dutch subsidiary Vogelsang B.V. > Page 44 OTHERS ARE ACCURATE, WE ARE PRECISE Why precision is so important for Vogelsang > Page 24

EDITORIAL Dear readers, There are currently many questions and challenges we have to focus on, Following a highly successful anniversary year in 2019, the COVID-19 crisis has brought with it stormy times for us. Every day, we face new, unprecedented challenges never seen before. However, we are also experiencing a wave of mutual support as businesses, suppliers, partners and customers strive to help each other get through this crisis in economic balance. from the health of our partners to ensuring that our supply chains remain unbroken so our customers can also remain fully operational and continue production. main question, now more than ever, remains, “How can we support our customers – especially economically – and what else can we do to help them secure and build on their success?” You will find some of the answers to this question in this edition of our magazine: • Making value from waste: Efficient and sustainable power generation using Yet when it comes to our customers, not so much has changed for us: Our the example of the Albertstroom biogas plant in Belgium. • Fish is 100% recyclable: Fish waste is also a valuable raw material. With integrated shredding and pumping using a compact system – the Vogelsang RedUnit – this can be achieved in very tight spaces, such as deep-sea trawlers • How can we use storm tanks to lighten the load on sewage systems and treatment plants during periods of heavy rainfall? We demonstrate using a case study in Madrid, Spain. • We have also produced a report on the importance of maximum precision for efficient, environmentally friendly liquid manure spreading that protects your plants, and the solutions Vogelsang can offer for this. • Customers and staff in focus: In this edition, we speak to yet another impressed customer who chose to work with Vogelsang, the technological leader. We also showcase the perspective of one of our staff: Read on to find out what it’s like to be part of the Vogelsang team! We’re sure this year still holds many more challenges and opportunities. We’re ready. We hope you enjoy reading the magazine! All the best, Harald Vogelsang THINK RED 06.2020 | 03

16 Title More demanding than expected: Rainwater Heavy rain is overloading sewage systems and treatment plants more and more frequently. Storm tanks keep the drainage flowing smoothly. Company 42 44 50 VOICES FOR VOGELSANG. JAMES RUSSELL “ I chose Vogelsang because it is a trusted name and we can rely on its technology.” James tl, Technical Director, BioCore Roscommon AD Plant, Ireland AROUND THE WORLD. VOGELSANG B.V. Big news from the West. A portrait of the Dutch subsidiary Vogelsang B.V. WORKING AT VOGELSANG “My work is versatile and fun!” In Holger Münchow’s opinion, Vogelsang’s international orientation was the right step at the right time. Standards 03 Editorial 04 Contents 51 Imprint T H E N E T H E R L A N D S Dordrecht B E L G I U M 44 Around the world. Vogelsang B.V. Big news from the West. A portrait of the Dutch subsidiary Vogelsang B.V. THINK RED 06.2020 | 05

What exactly does the phrase WE TOGETHER mean to you? It is important right now that we all stick together. It is true that big crises can only be conquered if every- one on the market, customers, suppliers and staff, all pull together. The flexibility of our staff is essential – we wouldn’t be able to do this otherwise. But the company is also enabling special models for working hours right now so that our employees have time to look after their children. Our suppliers are also important. For exam- ple, one of our suppliers jumped in to design and pro- duce a component in just three weeks to replace one for which our deliveries hadn’t arrived. At the other end, we have loosened our own payment deadlines and are paying invoices we owe before they are due. Which measures can you help and support in the scope of your business area? On the customer side, the COVID-19 crisis and our working from home have had a significant impact on local sewage treatment plants and wastewater systems. Hoarding of toilet paper has led to more people using paper towels and wet wipes, which are very slow to dis- integrate. This has caused huge problems for municipal sewage treatment firms, which is why we have decided to rent out our powerful XRipper twin-shaft grinder – free of charge for the first four weeks. We want to offer quick and unbureaucratic help. Have there been any other initiatives – perhaps from the workforce? Yes: Just recently, for example, the Vogelsang Founda- tion donated two 3D printers to the secondary school here in Essen (Oldenburg). The school is now using these printers to make clips for face shields. In addition to this, Dr.-Ing. Peter Hartogh, Assistant to the Technical Managing Director, has been very quick in developing 3D print data for producing respiratory masks using 3D printers. This 3D data has been available to download from our website for free since the beginning of April. How are your overseas branches coping with this situation, particularly those in Italy, Spain, France and the USA? Things are difficult for them, of course. Spain, France, Italy and also the U.S. have been hit particularly hard “Crises of this size can only be overcome if we work together.” Harald Vogelsang, Managing Director right now. Fortunately, however, our IT infrastructure also enables us to work largely from home in these countries. Our branches are also able to deliver to each other’s customers across international borders, which helps with temporary shortages of parts. Our cus- tomers appreciate this. Together with the dedication of our employees, all this has helped us to overcome many of the difficulties we have faced. Of course, all our domestic measures also apply to our international partners and suppliers. We are in constant contact, offering help from Germany whenever we can and need to. Here too, we are living by the motto “Stronger together.” Will the experience gained in recent weeks enable you to respond even better to similar crises in the future? I don’t think anyone can prepare correctly and suf- ficiently for a global pandemic that results in thou- sands of deaths. Of course, we hope that there won’t be another catastrophe like this again, but since we can’t be certain of that, we will have to learn to handle these situations successfully. Hygiene and infrastructure need to evolve so that we can cope with any future repeats without the need for shutdowns. That would also help with the next wave of normal flu. If you had one wish right now, what would it be? As a family-oriented company, the families of our employees, customers and partners are especially important to us. I wish for them to stay healthy through- out the coming weeks and months, surviving the pan- demic and perhaps even emerging from it stronger and with a greater appreciation for family. THINK RED 06.2020 | 07

Printing to prevent infection Vogelsang develops 3D data for printing respiratory masks Great thinking, fast making With the help of a doctor and other experts, Dr.-Ing. Peter Hartogh, Assistant to the Technical Manag- ing Director of Vogelsang, has developed 3D data at short notice for producing respiratory masks using 3D printers. The masks are not officially certified for medical use, but they can still help to reduce the risk of the COVID-19 virus spreading. In these times of bottlenecks for face and respiratory masks, this is a great help to us all. These masks are being supplied to doctors and hospitals. Downloadable 3D files for respiratory masks The 3D files are available to download for free via our website. This way, anyone who owns a 3D printer can make their own respiratory masks. We hope that this small contribution on our part will help to hold back the virus and protect the population. People and companies from Germany who require small numbers of these face and respiratory masks can contact Vogelsang using a contact form on our website to 3D print the masks for them. 3D printers sponsored by the Vogelsang foundation produce clips for face shields In addition to this, Vogelsang and the secondary school in Essen (Oldenburg) have been printing clips for full face shields on their 3D printers since the start of April. The face shields were developed by the com- pany PRUSA. Once printed, the clips are combined Above: Dr. Ing. Peter Hartogh, Assistant to the Technical Managing Director, has developed with experts 3D data, to produce respiratory masks on a 3D printer. Below: Bilal Zein, responsible for additive manufacturing at Vogelsang, coordinates the printing of the clips and face masks. These are then made available to doctors and hospitals. with a perforated A4 sheet of film and a rubber band to make the face mask before being shipped out to local doctors and hospitals. These masks are also not officially medically certified. This initiative has seen the secondary school in Essen (Oldenburg) using the 3D printers donated to it by the Vogelsang Foundation in February to help others through the crisis. www.vogelsang.info/int/ printing-against-corona THINK RED 06.2020 | 09

LOOKING BACK ON 2019 CONTINUED GROWTH IN 2019 DESPITE A DIFFICULT INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT 90 years of Vogelsang – 2019 was a very dynamic anniversary year, marked by celebrations for employees and customers. Outstanding milestones were the successful new product launches (BlackBird trailing shoe linkage, ExaCut ECQ precision distributor and the gearless pump), the DLG award for our innovative liquid manure spreading and distribution technology, and the award as Germanyʼs innovation leader. However, the anniversary year was also extremely successful in terms of figures. Despite the difficult economic environment, we were able to increase consolidated sales to 125 million euros. This corresponds to an increase in sales of almost 11%. In 2019, the number of employees also passed the 1,000 mark. AWARD GOLD AWARD FOR THE VOGELSANG STAND AT AGRIBEX The Vogelsang stand received the Exhibitor Award at Agribex in Belgium in December 2019 for its construction and design. We are very happy to have received this award – it shows us that our trade fair concept is persuasive and stands out. THINK RED 06.2020 | 11

The highlight of Agritechnica was the presentation of the BlackBird prototype with a working width of 24 meters. Agribex 2019 – Meeting place for the Belgian agricultural sector at the end of the year December 7 to 12, 2019 in Brussels, Belgium The highly efficient solutions for precise liquid manure management were presented to the Belgian agricultural industry at the end of the year. Particular highlights were the new products from Vogelsang, i.e., the BlackBird trailing shoe linkage, the ExaCut ECQ precision distributor and the gearless pump, which were presented to the trade public outside Germany for the first time. Vogelsang won the award as best exhibitor thanks to its outstanding visual trade fair concept. The award winning Vogelsang booth at the Agribex THINK RED 06.2020 | 13 Agritechnica 2019 – With innovative new products at the worldʼs leading trade fair for agricultural machinery November 10 to 16, 2019 in Hanover, Germany Innovative novelties concerning precise liquid manure spreading were presented on a stand measuring just under 320 m², true to Vogelsang’s slogan “LEADING IN TECHNOLOGY”, such as the new ExaCut ECQ precision distributor with a new QuickService concept, the new gearless rotary lobe pump with reduced weight and energy consumption and the new BlackBird trailing shoe linkage. This trailing shoe scores points with its flow-optimized liquid manure outlet and beak- shaped runners for the controlled and even flow of the liquid manure over the entire discharge length. It is available in working widths of 12 and 15 meters. The highlight of the fair was the presentation of the BlackBird prototype with a working width of 24 meters with the unique optimum ground adjustment thanks to a completely new boom, which provides height and oscillation compensation. vogelsang.info/int/agritechnica-video

SIMEI 2019 – Leading international trade fair for the beverage industry with a focus on wine November 19 to 22, 2019 in Milan, Italy At SIMEI in Italy, Vogelsang convinced winegrowers and wine producers from all over the world of the quality and the advantages of its rotary lobe pump for gentle handling of grapes, must and wine. These advantages include quiet and vibration-free operation, the possibility of mobile or stationary use, and very space-saving and flexible application due to the compact construction of the wine pump. However, the winemakers were particularly interested in the Vogelsang system control by means of a touchscreen on the pump, as well as an app for smartphones or tablets, which allows the pump to be controlled from any location. The system can be connected to the company network via a Wi-Fi connection and provide real-time data on flow, pressure and flow rates – the basic requirements for networked digital viticulture. Expo Pesca and Expo Agua in South America Expo Pesca, November 6 to 8, 2019, and Expo Agua, October 16 to 18, 2019, both in Peru As part of its internationalization strategy, Vogelsang also increased its participation in events in South America in 2019. These included the Expo Agua wastewater fair in Lima, Peru in October and Expo Pesca, the South American trade fair for the fishing industry, in Santiago de Surco, Peru in November 2019. THINK RED 06.2020 | 15

If large amounts of water suddenly appear, sewerage and sewage treatment plants are often overstrained. This can temporarily reduce the quality of wastewater purification. THINK RED 06.2020 | 17

Prepared for the next heavy rain: the storm tank prevents contaminated water from flowing into the river. fact, that not only protects the city’s wastewater treat- ment plants (WWTP) by regulating the incoming water masses to match its capacity, the storm tanks are designed to also avoid the direct discharge of waste- water into the river. Simple system with hidden challenges The storm tanks act as a buffer, constantly taking in and releasing water. During the loading phase – after heavy rain for example – the rainwater arrives at high speed and with turbulent flow carrying all kinds of solids and garbage while simultaneously cleaning the sewers. Surface waste and harmful matter are swept away by the rainwater along with sediments from the system itself. This is a severely contaminated mixture of water, which includes organic materials and fibers such as hair, rags and even small animal bodies. A whole range of non-organic things, among them many hygienic products and other improperly disposed-of garbage such as plastics, toys, shoes and many wet wipes, also reach the storm tank. Despite the installation of screens and grit chambers or other preventive measures, a high quantity of solids still makes its way into the storm tank. Even if the over- all dry matter content of the inflow is only 1.5%, heavy parts form sink layers on the tank bottom, while lighter solids accumulate to floating layers. Thereby, after the retained water is discharged, the dry matter content of the remaining sludge can reach up to 10–20%. The operating concept for emptying the tank had already been designed to cope with these special conditions. It is made up of two separate pumping systems. The main pumping system works on its own only up to a certain level of dry matter – a level suf- ficient for normal operation under regular circum- stances. And indeed, there were only a few sporadic blockages in the pumps due to a high quantity of debris and harmful matter. THINK RED 06.2020 | 19

Principle of the Butarque Storm tank In heavy rain, the water is led from the bypass chamber into the storm tank, which is later released to the sewage treatment plant for purification. The Vogelsang pump system for drainage is installed in the pump chamber together with the rest of the pumping technology. r e i v R s e r a n a z n M a To Butarque WWTP for purification Overflow from Butarque WWTP inlet structure Main sewer Bypass chamber Inlet structure Pump chamber metal pieces are separated by gravity while fibers and rags are chopped down efficiently. This protects the pump and the rest of the installation against damages and blockages. The control unit is installed in the main control room of the storm tank, monitoring and ana- lyzing process variables in real time and adapting the operation strategy to the respective condition instantly. Thanks to this specific equipment, no more problems arise during the tank-emptying phase. As a result, the pump system saves IMESAPI Groupe a lot of effort and money. Based upon its esti- mate, it would have had to clean the Butarque storm tank twice a year to clear away approximately 2,200 cubic meters of sludge each time. In financial terms, this would easily sum up to a minimum of 200,000 euros per year, only for taking the sludge out of the tank. As an additional benefit, the operation and maintenance costs are reduced by approximately 50,000 euros. Over- all, the investment has already paid off after the first tank cleaning and the operator is utterly convinced by these results. So it is no wonder there are further devel- opments in progress in cooperation with Vogelsang in order to upgrade other storm tanks in the Madrid community. THINK RED 06.2020 | 21

FAST HELP IN AN EMERGENCY Pump on three-point hitch or mounting plate Because they are mounted on a uni- versal three-point hitch or a special mounting plate, in an emergency Vogelsang rotary lobe pumps can be quickly and easily transported at the rear or front with a tractor or Unimog. They can be driven on-site by the trans- port vehicle itself using a PTO shaft or hydraulic motor. This enables powerful but uncomplicated and immediate help in the event of a flood. Example: VX186-184Q as a universal emergency pump • Delivery rate: up to 250 m3/h • Can be quickly and easily converted to various coupling systems using an adaptor (e.g., Perrot or Storz) • PTO or hydraulic motor drive • Easy to transport using a tractor or Unimog SET UP, CONNECT, START, PUMP Pump with internal combustion engine drive, mounted on a trailer When it comes down to it, emergency services can rely on Vogelsang’s powerful and robust pump technology. Assembled together with an internal combustion engine and other acces- sories on a trailer, everything is available to the on-site helpers for their quick deployment. SPECIAL SOLUTIONS FOR SPECIAL TASKS Pump with electric motor drive as a small mobile and portable unit If the general conditions present the helpers with unusual challenges, they can always rely on Vogelsangʼs mobile pump technology. Compact, light and portable – they manage to get to almost any location and pump whatever needs pumping. Example: VX186-520QD as an emergency and fire extinguisher water pump Example: IQ112-81 as a portable, mobile pump • Delivery rate: up to 500 m3/h • Mounted on a tandem trailer • Driven by a diesel engine • Equipped with three Storz couplings on each side so that the pump can be operated with standard fire depart- ment hoses • With emergency generator and two light masts for good visibility at night • Adjustable delivery rate: up to 40 m3/h • For hoses with Storz couplings • Drive via electric motor controlled by variable frequency drive • Mounted in the carrying frame and provided with a wheel axle, the pump can be quickly and easily brought to almost any location THINK RED 06.2020 | 23

As part of an unusual experimental demonstration, both company logos were applied on a stubble field with high precision using liquid manure. THINK RED 06.2020 | 25

AGRICULTURE. SPREADING TECHNOLOGY Above: The new BlackBird trailing shoe system from Vogelsang is synonymous with precision and distribution accuracy in spreading. Right: The skid with its beak-like shape, and the ExaCut ECQ are only permitted to apply a certain amount of natu- ral fertilizer to their fields, farmers bear the respon- sibility for distributing this predetermined amount as precisely as possible, so that the nutrients contained are evenly spread over the entire area. Distribution accuracy becomes even more important when only limited quantities are available for spreading. After all, only precise spreading and distribution of the liquid manure provides the plant with an optimal supply of nutrients. This results in uniform growth of the plant and thus the maximum possible yield on a field. The guiding principle should be “As little as possible, as much as necessary.” It is important to apply only enough fertilizer to supply the plant with all the nutrients it needs, but not enough to cause over-fertilization. Over-fertilization not only dam- ages the environment, but also the plant itself: for example, it can cause burns when exposed to sunlight. Plant-appropriate fertili- zation therefore includes even and precise distribu- tion of nutrients. The more precise the placement of the liquid manure close to the ground under the plant, the more effective it is. The principle of plant- appropriate fertilization “ As little as possible, as much as necessary” THINK RED 06.2020 | 27

The capability to deposit the liquid manure as needed in highly specific areas enables modern agriculture to operate more sustainably – thereby promoting the triad of economy, ecology and social acceptance. manure to reach the ground while ensuring even plant growth. The approach V is avoided. Above all, the new BlackBird trailing shoe system is designed for maxi- mum precision. With the beak-like and elongated shape of the outlet and the innovative geometry of the skid, a controlled and even flow of the liquid manure over the entire outlet length is ensured. Through active pressure, the sharpened runner penetrates bet- ter into the soil and carves a narrow strip for direct liquid manure placement under the plants. Precision for environmentally friendly fertilization rotary lobe pumps transport the liquid manure from the tanker to the distribution and spreading system more precisely and in line with requirements. This is because the pumps ensure exact volume regulation through speed variations. The RotaCut, a wet cutter with an integrated heavy material separator, reliably shreds fibrous and other impurities in the liquid manure and ensures a homogeneous medium with better flow characteris- tics. This makes it easier and more reliable to pump the liquid manure. With precision distributors like ExaCut or DosiMat, the liquid manure is evenly distributed to the discharge hoses. At Vogelsang, all precision dis- tributors have excellent coefficients of variation, and this as standard. This shows just how highly precise the functioning of the distributor head is. The Vogelsang dribble bar and trailing shoe systems also stand for precision in spreading and dis- tribution accuracy. The well-thought-out hose instal- lation simultaneously makes it possible for the liquid The perfect interplay of these precise working tech- niques – from filling to spreading – enables the nutri- ents to be placed exactly where the plant needs them. In this way, the most liquid manure can be extracted for the plant within the specified time. This makes farmers able to supply their plants in the best possible way, achieve high yields and work cost-efficiently. Precision is a decisive factor for economical fertilization that is friendly toward the soil, plants and environment. “The capability to deposit the liq- uid manure as needed in highly specific areas enables modern agriculture to operate more sustainably – thereby promoting the triad of economy, ecology and social acceptance.” As has been said: “Others may be exact, but we are committed to precision.” This was the focus of the “liquid manure logo” project under- taken jointly by Vogelsang and John Deere. The proj- ect was intended to highlight the precise distribution and spreading of liquid manure and a technology that fits the operating environment – for economical and sustainable liquid manure management. THINK RED 06.2020 | 29

” Precision and the exact interaction of the individual components were a decisive factor in the development of the near-ground spreading technology.” Burkhard Verhülsdonk, inventor of dribble bar technology Over time, the requirements for liquid manure spreading technology have become more strin- gent, also due to environmental pollution. How has this influenced the further development of dribble bar technology? In the further development of technologies, precision is more important than ever – from both an environ- mental as well as economic point of view. Thanks to innovative technologies such as the ExaCut series of precision distributors, the liquid manure is now dis- tributed just as precisely and evenly over a working width of 36 meters as it was over 12 meters 40 years ago. Needs-based fertilization is a key concept here. If farmers know the nutrient content of the liquid manure in each barrel used for spreading and the requirements of the respective area to be fertilized (depending on the nutrient requirements of the plants and the soil conditions), today’s systems enable the valuable liquid manure to be used as natural fertilizer, just like inorganic fertilizer. Many thanks for the interview! THINK RED 06.2020 | 31

BIOGAS. CASE STUDY: BIOGASTEC WHEN WASTE IS VALUABLE Vogelsang and BiogasTec (Belgium) Positive experience of cooperation ensures environmentally compatible and resource- saving energy and materials U nnoticed by most, one of the biggest bio- gas plants that converts waste into valuable resources, went into operation in 2019. In Albertstroom, about 25 km east of Ant- werp in Belgium, biowaste and residual materials are the basic material for produc- ing valuable resources: energy, fertilizer and process water. BiogasTec specializes in precisely this form of sustainable waste utilization. The company is respon- sible for the planning, construction and operation of the plant. The focus at BiogasTec is on closed cycles and sustainable processes, as well as the highest possi- ble efficiency. The company also relies on cooperation with Vogelsang. THINK RED 06.2020 | 33

Closed loops The high efficiency of the overall system and closed circuits are key requirements for completing a project. A prime example of this is a project that was com- pleted in close cooperation with a manufacturer of frozen vegetables. The project was so successful for both parties that the capacity of the jointly operated plant was doubled in 2016. Production waste accounts for 77 percent of the input materials. The dewatered sewage sludge from the company’s own sewage treat- ment plant, which biologically treats the production wastewater, makes up a further 13 percent of the solid matter used. This is supplemented by a small amount of energy crops. The Vogelsang solid matter feeder mashes everything into a homogeneous sus- pension and the digesters are fed with substrates that have been treated for bacteria. They ferment in the digesters and post-digesters in the biogas plant, pro- ducing biogas, among other things. This is used in the plant’s two combined heat and power (CHP) units to generate 3 MWel of electricity and 3.4 MWth of ther- mal energy. Both are consumed by the two partners directly on-site and are significantly cheaper than the previous sources of supply. For BiogasTec an impor- tant detail for the sustainability and success of the project is its almost complete use of the heat produced. It is mainly used to generate process steam, which is needed in the partner company’s pro- duction process. But the heat is also used in the company’s own waste- water treatment plant and the biogas plant itself. This includes processing of the fermentation residues. These are separated into a liquid and a solid fraction (approx. 20,000 tonnes per year). While the solid fraction is immediately suitable for use as fer- tilizer by agricultural suppliers, the liquid suspension undergoes further treatment in an evaporator. It is ulti- mately turned into demineralized, high-quality water that can be reused in the partner’s production. In addi- tion, a liquid nutrient concentrate is obtained, which is added to the dry fraction and thus increases its nutri- ent content. All in all, a complete closed circuit. For BiogasTec an important detail for the sustainability and success of the project is its almost complete use of the heat produced. THINK RED 06.2020 | 35

For realization of its projects, including Albertstroom, BiogasTec has relied on Vogelsang as a trustworthy partner for pumping, solids reduction and solid matter feed technology. Trusting and professional cooperation with Vogelsang For realization of its projects, including Albertstroom, BiogasTec has relied on Vogelsang as a trustworthy partner for pumping, solids reduction and solid mat- ter feed technology. Ten rotary lobe pumps from the VX series and four RotaCut cutters ensure effective treatment and pumping of the organic suspension at various points. Important selection criteria include reliability, easy and fast maintenance, and a rapid spare parts supply. In addition to the sophisticated Vogelsang technologies, BiogasTec also benefits from other Vogelsang services. Specifically they appreciate expert advice that would not be possible without the many years of experience at Vogelsang. This is pre- cisely what BiogasTec considers to be a crucial crite- rion for a good supplier. It wants partners that are not stuck in a rut, and react flexibly to new challenges and develop individually tailored solutions with its cus- tomers. For BiogasTec, good and trusting cooperation such as that with Vogelsang is a very important crite- rion for a long-term and mutually beneficial business relationship. THINK RED 06.2020 | 37

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GRINDING AND PUMPING IN ONE STEP The powerful RedUnit system for turning food waste into pumpable media. For example fish waste on fishing vessels. size, the XRipper can be followed by a macerator. The RotaCut RCV processes the added mass to an even finer consistency. The result of these downsizing steps is a pulpy suspension that no longer contains large foreign bodies and therefore cannot cause any damage to the downstream pumps. In this way, failures due to blockages or constipation can be prevented. A positive side effect is falling maintenance and repair costs with higher plant availability. The integrated progressing cavity pump of the CC series takes care of the further transport to the next process step or storage location. The compact design of the RedUnit requires less energy because gravity transports the mass to the next level so it does not have to be conveyed. Due to the built-in low-level sensor of the XRipper, the sys- tem is automatically switched off as soon as no more material comes along. If the level rises again, the entire system starts up again, so energy is only used if it is needed for the grinding process. On the way to Industry 4.0: Platform-independent control unit of the RedUnit Vogelsang has equipped the RedUnit with an intelligent control unit. This means that the complete system can be easily integrated into any plant using the plug-and-play principle. This simplifies commissioning on-site. As soon as the user connects the RedUnit to the power, the modules automatically communicate via the platform-independent standard protocol OPC UA. All components and their technical values can be viewed on a touchscreen. THINK RED 06.2020 | 41

VOICES FOR VOGELSANG. JAMES RUSSELL As part of our commitment campaign, we are again presenting a satisfied Vogelsang customer in this issue. This time our customer voice comes from the Irish County Roscommon. “ I CHOSE VOGELSANG because it is a trusted name and we can rely on its technology.” James Russell, Technical Director, BioCore Roscommon AD Plant, Ireland O ur 1 MW BioCore biogas plant is located in County Roscommon, Ireland and consists of a 2,500 m3 digester, 2,500 m3 post digester and two final storages with 7,000 m3 over all. The plant generates heat and energy from sewage sludge (90%) and grease from grease traps (10%) and uses a pasteurizing process to ensure the end product is clean and meets Class A biosolids standards. With sewage sludge and local waste streams coming into the plant, the consistency of feedstock being fed into the digesters changes constantly. There- fore, we needed a solid matter feeder that could handle a wide range of input materials and had the ability to process difficult substrates and fibrous material safely and efficiently. Additionally, the biosolids separated from the digestate had to achieve Class A designation. Thus, a rigorous pre-treatment of the sludge and reduc- tion of particle size within the medium was needed. After careful consideration with our plant con- struction company, we decided to use a combination of the robust Vogelsang PreMix solid matter feeder and a RotaCut macerator. The PreMix reliably handles the variable consistency of feedstock and also efficiently “We needed a solid matter feeder that could handle a wide range of input materials and process difficult substrates and fibrous material safely and efficiently.” James Russell in front of the PreMix liquid feeding system treats the sludge by removing any foreign matter such as stones. The 4-in-1 system crushes untreated solids and mixes the wide variety of biomasses into a homogenous suspension. The RotaCut macerator was implemented as a stand-alone unit for the pasteuriza- tion and optimally reduces the particle size to meet compliance requirements. Overall, things are run- ning smoothly and the plant is successfully producing energy from sewage sludge. THINK RED 06.2020 | 43

“We operate close to our customers and with Vogelsang as a strong parent company, we are able to offer customers the entire range of experience, know-how and service of an internationally positioned mechanical engineering company.” Paul Roobol, Managing Director of Vogelsang B.V. THINK RED 06.2020 | 45

Around 20 employees now manage the distribution of Vogelsang and complementary third-party products in the Netherlands and Belgium. solutions.” For this purpose, Vogelsang B.V. has, for example, a high-quality and powerful portfolio of rotary lobe pumps and shredders. These can be used in numerous industrial applications, such as in the pro- cessing and treatment of residual materials in the food industry or for pumping highly viscous, chemically aggressive media such as paints, acids or heating oil. 24/7 service, of course In addition to consulting and solution-finding, service plays an important role for Vogelsang B.V. and is a central part of the business strategy. Three members of the almost 20-member team work in the service area, which includes after-sales services and services related to spare parts procurement. The subsidiary also offers its customers 24/7 support. “The satisfaction of our customers is our top priority. That is why we always seek to be close to them. Only in this way can we learn about their current needs and requirements. This is also the driving force behind the development of the Aeromix for the agricultural industry,” says Roobol. Short portrait of Paul Roobol: Managing Director and industry expert Born in 1966 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Paul Roobol has worked in various management positions in mechanical engineering for over 30 years and is therefore an expert in the industry. Before his current position as Managing Director of Vogelsang B.V. (since the end of 2018), Roobol was already Sales Manager at Bos Benelux. Previously, he was director of the Dutch site of a German company that offers system solutions for the distribution of liquid fuels. Roobol entered the mechanical engineering industry as a sales representative for a technical trading company and later as sales manager for a pump manufacturer in Benelux. As Managing Director at Vogelsang B.V., Roobol promotes close cooperation with customers. His passion is to find the best solution for each customer – through the expertise and wide range of products offered by Vogelsang and other providers. THINK RED 06.2020 | 47

The Vogelsang subsidiary is also expanding its leading position in Belgium in the industry segment. Daniel Goetelen (top left) and Brecht Sentobin (top right) are responsible for operations in Belgium. Growth in all segments The goal of Roobol and his team is to have a stable presence in the various markets in the Netherlands and Belgium and to grow in all segments – wastewa- ter, agricultural technology, biogas, industry, trans- port technology – through a strong service portfolio. In the transport technology segment, for example, a number of major projects are pending, such as with NedTrain, the leading company for rail vehicle main- tenance in the Netherlands. Vogelsang B.V. already supports NedTrain with supply and disposal systems for passenger trains and will intensify this coopera- tion. In the biogas segment, the Vogelsang subsidiary will further expand its leading position in Belgium in equipping biogas plants with the parent company’s broad product portfolio. And beyond that? “Strategi- cally and organizationally we have realigned and posi- tioned ourselves in recent years through the merger with Vogelsang. This process is not yet complete. Another recent step in this direction was the go-live of our new website, which is now integrated into the web presence of the Vogelsang Group and can be reached at www.vogelsang.info/nl. Internally, we are in the process of further streamlining processes in order to be able to respond to our customers in an even more targeted manner and to find the optimal solution for them.” THINK RED 06.2020 | 49

WORKING AT VOGELSANG “ MY WORK IS VERSATILE AND FUN!” In Holger Münchow’s opinion, Vogelsangʼs international orientation was the right step at the right time. Holger Münchow is team leader for the CNC machining area. He is responsible for purchasing consumables for the milling and turning areas. W hen Münchow finished his further training as a technician, only three among the 60 graduates received a job offer directly. “Vogelsang was a stroke of luck for me.” Much has changed for Münchow since he started at the company in 1996. With just ten to twelve employees in the milling and turning area back then, the number of employees in these areas is now many times larger today. Due to his many years in his job, Münchow knows many of the 750 employees in Essen (Olden- burg). “When I started, we were about 80 employees. I appreciated the friendly and cooperative collegiality. You meet friendly and nice colleagues everywhere at Vogelsang.” From his beginnings as a machine opera- tor, today Münchow is happy to be able to contribute his skills as a team leader. “I enjoy the freedom and opportunities that my job offers me. And Vogelsang is always flexible when it comes to family matters,” he says referring to his wife and son. For Münchow the huge growth at Vogelsang’s is impressive. “Even economic crises could not harm us.” “Iʼm proud to be part of Vogelsang.” Holger Münchow appreciates in his work that there will always be exciting opportunities due to innovations and company growth. He always has to smile when cus- tomers or suppliers are surprised about the constant growth. “Back then nobody would have thought that Vogelsang’s internationaliza- tion would make it so successful.” Recently Münchow and his team of 40, who previously worked in three separate production halls, moved into a newly constructed production hall with lots of natural light flooding the 4,300 m2 area. “My team benefits from the high ceilings and clean air.” And even if the dedicated team leader never sees the finished machines in his CNC production area, he’s always enthusiastic about each of Vogelsang’s innovations. “The new BlackBird is already one of the company’s trademarks.” “Vogelsang is constantly changing. We are becoming more professional and we adhere to more standards.” For Münchow, this means that areas of appli- cation are always being redefined due to growth. He looks forward to the challenges of the future and is sure that Vogelsang will continue to grow into the future. IMPRINT Editor: Vogelsang GmbH & Co. KG Holthoege 10 – 14 | 49632 Essen (Oldenburg) | Germany Phone: +49 5434 83 - 0 | Fax: +49 5434 83 - 10 [email protected] | vogelsang.info Managing Directors: Harald Vogelsang, Hugo Vogelsang, David Guidez Editor in Chief & Project Management: Marketing Vogelsang Concept and layout: Public Markenagentur Gesellschaft für marketingorientierte Kommunikation mbH [email protected], www.public-cologne.de Circulation: 2,000 copies Publishing: Biannual All information and contributions are selected to the best of our knowledge, however without guarantee. We always welcome suggestions, wishes and contributions. The articles do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. All rights are re- served. Copying or electronic distribution with the publisher’s written permission only.