THINK RED | The Vogelsang Magazine vogelsang.info Edition 7 | 2020 T H E V O G E L S A N G M A G A Z I N E THE NEW NORMAL Working from home during the pandemic: Digital work environment at Vogelsang > Page 12 LIQUID MANURE – A VALUABLE MATERIAL Challenges around the world: Taking a look at China, Canada and the Ukraine > Page 24 COLLABORATION WITH ADDED VALUE Together with Ruhrverband, Vogelsang developed the XRipper XRG186 modified wastewater cutter > Page 36 FAR TOO GOOD FOR THE BIN Processing of waste. The RedUnit industrial grinder for the feed industry > Page 42

EDITORIAL Dear readers, We know what is important, especially in these times. Vogelsang was and remains The year 2020 has had it all. The COVID-19 pandemic has a firm grip on us all. Our everyday working life has changed. We have integrated virtual structures, meaning home office and digital communication channels, into our processes even more profoundly than before. With success! Also this year we have developed and expanded our product portfolio, with which we would like to provide our customers with real solutions. a reliable partner, so that our customers can ensure their production and business operations without disruption. Unfortunately, 2020 has also been a year of canceled trade shows and events. Here too we have found a way not to lose contact with customers and partners: be it small events on-site, be it online training courses, virtual trade shows, web meetings or our showroom in Essen (Oldenburg) where we can show our products live to single customers. Looking ahead to next year, the trade fair scenery then might look quite different – but it is very difficult to venture an outlook. This edition provides you with exciting insights into our Vogelsang world: • Our “new normal”: Digitization not only plays an important part externally, it also has a big role in our administration area. Read how our employees deal with working from home and how our HR department adjusts to it. • Unfortunately, liquid manure is not yet an important resource worldwide. How the topic of liquid manure management in other countries is handled you can read from page 24. • Take a look at some research. Vogelsang works together on the “FlexPump” project with the biogas plant Biocraft Nohra (Thuringia) on a mixed concept for biogas plants. • Read about how Vogelsang is helping with its RedUnit industrial shredder so that byproducts in the bread industry are further processed into animal feed and therefore don’t end up in the garbage, from page 42. • In this issue, too, we introduce you to a convinced customer who ensures the mobility of its customers from the travel industry thanks to our RoadPump Plus, a system for quick and hygienic wastewater disposal and freshwater supply. • Come with me to Rothenschirmbach. Our branch in Saxony-Anhalt has been primarily in the field of agricultural technology for over 25 years, nowadays with 44 employees locally available for our customers from the eastern part of Germany. • And we look to the next year and hope to see you at the trade show EnergyDecentral in February in Hanover. Enjoy reading! Sincerely yours, Harald Vogelsang THINK RED 07.2020 | 03

12 The new normal Working from home during the pandemic: Digital work environment at Vogelsang Company 46 48 54 VOICES FOR VOGELSANG. FRANK WADLINGER “We at the Westfalen Group chose Vogelsang, because it enables us to guarantee the mobility of our guests as best as possible.” Frank Wadlinger, operator of Westfalen petrol station in Münster, Germany AROUND THE WORLD. THE VOGELSANG BRANCH IN ROTHENSCHIRMBACH Regional and close to the customer WORKING AT VOGELSANG “I just enjoy being in the company because I enjoy working here!” Björn Freye, IT Specialist in System Integration, has been working at Vogelsang for 15 years – with great commitment and enthusiasm. Standards 03 Editorial 04 Contents 55 Imprint 48 Around the world. The Vogelsang branch in Rothenschirmbach Regional and close to the customer THINK RED 07.2020 | 05

STAY CONNECTED THE FIRST VIRTUAL INTERNATIONAL SALES MEETING Business as usual? Yes, but virtually, as the COVID-19 pandemic has led Vogelsang to rethink its approach and try out new concepts. This year, for the first time ever, we held our annual international sales meeting virtually. Regular communication with the global sales force is crucial to the success of our international growth strategy. The meeting acts as a platform for sharing information (e.g., on business development and alignment, or new product developments), and also for sharing experiences and boosting motivation among our subsidiaries. The latter is particularly important in view of the pan- demic and its consequences – we can only learn and react quickly if we do it together. The virtual aspect of the sales meeting was also a great success, and went surprisingly well. What lessons did we learn? “Based on this success, we’re going to hold quarterly sales meetings (a mix of virtual and face-to-face meetings) from now on, and also host webinars as training sessions for our new product developments,” is how CEO Harald Vogelsang summarizes the situation. RENEWED RECOGNITION AS GERMANY’S INNOVATION LEADER In April this year, economic research institute Prognos named Vogelsang Germany’s Innovation Leader for the second year running. “Winning this award again is both a source of pride and a challenge for us. In order to ensure that we can maintain this status in the future, we continue to invest consistently in new products and product developments, as well as in our employees’ expertise,” says Hugo Vogelsang, CEO and Head of R&D, in response to this honor. NEW SALES OFFICE IN HUNGARY As part of its international growth strategy, Vogelsang opened a sales office in Hungary in May 2020. In Attila Sinkó, who is in charge of sales across all market segments in Hungary, we now have a local contact with sales expe- rience on the ground, which will enable us to respond to market requirements and customer requests even faster. THINK RED 07.2020 | 07

FIMA – Agricultural technology meeting point in Spain February 25 to February 29, 2020 in Zaragoza, Spain The agricultural sector also met in Spain right at the beginning of the year. In response to the continuously growing importance of the Spanish market, Vogelsang participated at FIMA with a large selection of its broad product portfolio for precise liquid manure spreading. However, the highlight was the product launch of the UniSpread prototype, an extremely flexible universal linkage, which has been developed especially for small working widths. Vogelsang offers the UniSpread usable in combination with dribble hose systems as well as trailing shoe systems to meet the demand for flexible spreading techniques. Pumps & Valves – The meeting point for maintenance staff February 12 to February 13, 2020 in Dortmund, Germany The trade fair for pumps, valves and processes with a focus on maintenance is the ideal event for Vogelsang to introduce the industrial trade audience to its extremely service-friendly pump portfolio. At the stand, Vogelsang impressed visitors with its VX series and IQ series rotary lobe pumps, both with the unique service concept. In addition, Vogelsang scored points for its communication concept – we won second place in the award for most visitor registrations. BIOGAS Information Days January 29 to January 30, 2020 in Ulm The biogas industry also gathered right at the beginning of the year in Ulm to exchange information. Vogelsang presented its innovative solutions for system optimization at BIOGAS Informa- tion Days in southern Germany with a selection from its broad product portfolio: Among the products exhibited were the universal fluid feeding system, the PreMix as well as a very powerful pump system, the CC-Cut – a combination of the RotaCut and progressive cavity pump for reliable and trouble-free pumping of highly viscous and demanding media. THINK RED 07.2020 | 09

TRADE FAIR. ENERGYDECENTRAL PREVIEW VOGELSANG AT ENERGYDECENTRAL Hanover Exhibition Center February 9–12, 2021 Hall 9, Stand J11 INNOVATIONS LIVE Meet us at EnergyDecentral, the international trade fair for innovative energy supply technology Preparations are underway for the fair, which has been put back to February 9 to 12, 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Despite all of the current uncertainties, organizers and exhibitors are working hard to prepare an interesting and informative trade fair for visitors, even under these very difficult conditions. The fair has been completely replanned to take into account the new requirements for hygiene and distancing, and Energy- Decentral will now take place in Hall 9 of the Hanover Exhibition Center as part of EuroTier. A key issue is energy generation in agriculture: Part of the professional pro- gram is dedicated to this issue, focusing on smart use of self-generated electricity. DisRuptor – mechanical disintegration Academically backed projects and long- term trials with customers prove the benefits of the mechanical disintegration system, whether it is for complex structure substrates such as dung and straw or corn silage. In particular, the system solutions can be quickly and easily integrated thanks to the “plug & play” method. Visitors can find out everything they need to know on the stand in Hall 9. PreMix solid matter feeder The PreMix liquid feeding as a system solu- tion offers significant advantages, particularly for retrofitting, which many people are not aware of yet. On the trade fair stand, visitors can find out how easy it can be to modernize your solid matter feeding. GL series – Lightweight, compact, high performance The uniquely light and compact rotary lobe pumps from the GL series offer important advantages, particularly for road transport. With a consistently lightweight design and a concept reduced to what is essential, the GL series offers an impressive 55 percent weight saving and requires 35 percent less space. On Stand J11 in Hall 9, Vogelsang will be providing information about the latest developments in the field of pump and shredding technology, solid matter feeding and disintegration methods. Trade fair hygiene concept To make sure all visitors have a safe and informative visit to the trade fair, the walkways have been made significantly wider and measures have been implemented to regulate visitor numbers in the entrance areas and restaurants. A new approach is that all visitors buy their tickets in advance from the trade fair ticket shop and have to register in case any official tracking relating to the COVID-19 outbreak is necessary. THINK RED 07.2020 | 11

THE NEW NORMAL Working from home during the pandemic: Digital work environment at Vogelsang THINK RED 07.2020 | 13 THINK RED 07.2020 | 13

80 percent of Vogelsang employees surveyed stated that they like or prefer to work from home.   77 % Some 77 percent work more effectively from home. 80 %  VOGELSANG INTERNAL SURVEY 80 %  75 percent of the Vogelsang marketing employees surveyed tend not to enjoy working from home.  75 % 80 percent would like to continue working from home. 100 % In contrast, the sales department sees the home office as 100 percent positive. THINK RED 07.2020 | 15

of facial expressions and gestures, which are only par- tially perceptible via videoconferences and which are completely lost in a telephone conversation. Leader- ship at a distance is therefore more impersonal. On the other hand, working from home promotes the employee’s independence. Employees now clarify or decide little things that were otherwise asked out loud. It is therefore important to adapt the management style to this and to find solutions that make the (spa- tial) distance between manager and employee appear as small as possible. The individual further development of employ- ees is one important aspect in which it’s important to convey appreciation of the employees just as tangibly as in personal exchange. The range of digital training opportunities is diverse and has the advantage of sav- ing travel and accommodation costs as well as travel times. But networking also falls by the wayside after the training. 3 Culture The coronavirus has forced Vogelsang and many other companies to introduce a home office cul- ture within a very short time, even against some concerns; overall, however, the result is that it works. Quality does not suffer due to working from home. With this positive experience, the mental change away from a rigid presence culture towards a results- based culture is also successful. In order to sustainably anchor the digital world of work in a company’s cul- ture, modern work equipment and smooth technology can only go so far; what’s essential is that superiors set an example by living this culture themselves. Flexible recruiting throughout Germany The digitization of the world of work and the resulting flexible work models such as in a home office also have great potential for attracting new employees. Because especially companies like Vogelsang, which are located in rural areas and not in metropolitan areas or in the environment of megacities, often disappear from the radar of young professionals for this reason alone. Stephan Illmer: “The location-independent work also makes us more flexible in recruiting. Because it enables us to recruit new employees beyond regional borders. This is a great opportunity for Vogelsang.” DIGITIZATION IN THE VOGELSANG WORLD OF WORK In order for the digital working world to succeed in the long term, HR managers say three important factors are important from their perspective: 1 Communication Regular videoconferences can be used to main- tain contact with colleagues. To do this, Vogelsang uses the GoToMeeting with camera tool for virtual face-to-face meetings and uses it to hold videoconfer- ences in large groups of 30 or more colleagues. 2 Virtual management Working from home influences management culture. After all, communication that’s not face-to-face promotes distance. There is a lack The THINK RED! Editorial team talked to Stephan Illmer, HR Manager at Vogelsang, about what is important and what the future of work at Vogelsang will look like. THINK RED 07.2020 | 17

DIGITIZATION IN HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT. INTERVIEW “THE INITIAL SKEPTICISM ALMOST TURNED INTO A HOME OFFICE EUPHORIA.” Vogelsang HR Manager Stephan Illmer on recruiting strategies, the workplace of the future and the digitization of HR THINK RED!: What does it take to stay ahead in the competition for skilled workers? Stephan Illmer: Nowadays, it is more the employer who vies for the applicant’s favor. The job advertise- ment is the application to the employee, no longer the other way around. Unique selling points are impor- tant here. The subsidy for company pension schemes or free drinks are already standard in general, so you don’t really pick anyone up with them anymore. But completely location-independent work, applications for positions whose company headquarters are hun- dreds of kilometers away, were previously unthinkable without a subsequent move. We make this possible and thus ensure a pronounced work-life balance for our future and existing employees. THINK RED 07.2020 | 19

in relation and evaluate it graphically using Qlikview. In addition, we use electronic applicant management, which enables the departments to access applicant data directly. We also use a digital job reference man- ager with direct digital evaluation by the supervisor. The digital travel expense accounting via the employee portal is being planned. In your opinion, what is required in order to make the HR department fit for the future? From a digital perspective, the HR department is already very well positioned. For example, we keep a digital personnel file. It also allows HR staff to work almost entirely from home. That was previously unthinkable with paper files. Certificates are loaded directly into the employee’s digital mailbox. We no longer have any paper forms and therefore much less bureaucracy. All digitization measures are in accor- dance with the GDPR. How will the HR department at Vogelsang develop? In the medium term, the employees will continue their professional development and are striving for IT IS THE MIXTURE OF PRESENCE AND HOME OFFICE THAT PROMOTES ACCEPTANCE OF THE NEW recognized degrees from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, like for example the “HR specialist.” The aim is to be able to support our colleagues even more intensively in their work, for example during inter- views or when they are returning from sick leave. In the course of the further development of the coronavirus situation, we also assume that we will be challenged with new requirements. E-learning will become extremely important in the future. Here we experience great support from the management. Because the Board is open to technical progress and is not afraid of the resulting costs. This cannot be taken for granted. For us, it means enormous flexibility and makes work easier. THINK RED 07.2020 | 21

VOGELSANG AT INNOTRANS Berlin September 20–23, 2022 As a result of his many years of managerial activity in a metal construction company, the qualified electrical engineer not only has a sound technical background, but also knows how to optimize internal and external processes. “Together with my motivated team, I will strengthen the positioning of the transportation depart- ment nationally and internationally. Innovation and maximum reliability are the keywords here.” This is how Jürgen Jonuscheit explains the objective of his work. Above: Train care depot with TUnit multi-point installation On the far left: Improved user hygiene when emptying the on-board toilet tanks On the left: Jürgen Jonuscheit, new business unit director of the transportation department THINK RED 07.2020 | 23

LIQUID MANURE – A VALUABLE MATERIAL Challenges around the world: Taking a look at China, Canada and the Ukraine C A N A D A U K R A I N E C H I N A THINK RED 07.2020 | 25

Poltava UKRAINE This is the situation Although Ukrainian farmers often use state-of-the-art technology in crop cultivation, organic fertilization only plays a minor role for them. This is also due to the fact that livestock farms often see liquid manure as an annoying by-product. A common solution is therefore liquid manure lagoons, which serve as an uncompli- cated storage location for liquid manure. Where is the problem? In the Ukraine today there are many, sometimes very large, liquid manure lagoons with a volume of 20,000 to 80,000 m³. Since the agricultural businesses have barely invested in the necessary mixing and pump technology so far, the basins have not been moved for years. This has left lagoons with a very tough layer of sediment that the businesses can no longer process with conventional centrifugal pumps. Initial solutions The high suction capacity of the rotary lobe pumps from Vogelsang allows the businesses to pump out the sediment layers and completely empty the lagoons. Although the time required for this is long, it is an effi- cient and economical solution compared to a suitable mixer due to the cost advantage. • Company: Globine pig farm • Capacity: 12,500 pigs • Place: Poltava • Vogelsang product: VX series rotary lobe pump, 60,000 m³ pumping capacity per year “With the rotary lobe pump, we can empty the liquid manure lagoons even under difficult conditions. Even large basins with a suction depth of up to eight meters are no problem for the pump.” Witaly Klimenko, Technical Manager at Globine pig farm THINK RED 07.2020 | 27

“THE INTERNATIONAL DEMAND FOR RELIABLE TECHNOLOGY FOR EFFICIENT LIQUID MANURE MANAGEMENT IS INCREASING” Interview with Hubert Schmidt, Head of Sales in the field of international agricultural technology at Vogelsang THINK RED!: Mr. Schmidt, in Germany there are numerous requirements for the treatment and distribution of liquid manure. The requirements primarily serve to protect agricultural areas and the environment. How do the regulations affect the work of farmers and contractors? Hubert Schmidt: Legal framework conditions such as the fertilizer ordinance in Germany present the agricultural economy with the challenge of designing its liquid manure management, on the one hand, in accordance with the law and, on the other hand, in an economic and plant-friendly manner. In ever-shorter time windows they have to spread the liquid manure close to the ground and in strips. This can be achieved only with a precise spreading technology. In Germany, farmers appreciate the “value” of liquid manure and the advantages of organic fertilization. However, the strict requirements also push them to their limits. Invest- ments in new technology can be high, but the resources – especially in small businesses – are often low. Are businesses in other countries facing the same challenge? Partially. There are certainly countries in which liquid manure distribution is also subject to strict restric- tions such as the spreading time and quantity – the Netherlands is an example of this. However, we are observing great differences in the challenges of liquid manure management worldwide. In many countries, for example, there is a lack of the necessary economic infrastructure and thus also the technology to use liquid manure in an environmentally friendly and plant-friendly manner. In some countries, an aware- ness of the advantages of precise organic fertilization is emerging only slowly. Do you think that liquid manure management will change outside of Germany in the future? Yes, we are already observing such developments in some countries – for example in China and Canada. Funding programs are being set up and restrictions issued. However, these measures are often still in their initial stages. But, there is a tendency towards increas- ing the awareness of environmentally friendly and effi- cient liquid manure management worldwide. Above all, countries with a large share of agriculture will need solutions in the future to reduce the environmental pol- lution caused by the careless handling of liquid manure. What role is Vogelsang playing in this development? Vogelsang has been doing pioneering work on-site with experts for many years. This means we are supporting developments in the field of research and science and are constantly in communication with regard to the current state of the art. We see an increasing demand worldwide for reliable technology for efficient liquid manure management – both for individual components and complete systems. Our products are of sufficient flexibility to meet the various challenges in different countries. We provide our customers with solution- oriented products: from rotary lobe pumps and pre- cision distributors to dribble bar systems. We will be expanding this commitment in the future and are fol- lowing the global developments in liquid manure man- agement with great excitement. THINK RED 07.2020 | 29

MANURE IN, PROFITABILITY RISES Partnership for plant optimization: In Nohra, Vogelsang and Biocraft Nohra are working with partners from industry and research on the “FlexPump” project – a mixing concept for the flexible, efficiency-optimized and multi- feedstock-capable operation of biogas plants. S uccessfully marketing worthless items. Col- loquially in German, one also likes to say: “Making money from sh**.” In Grammetal, they take this literally – and quite success- fully, actually. There, animal excrement is economically converted into energy in the biogas plant of Biocraft Nohra. The trigger for the change in the operating con- cept was rather unpleasant: the neighboring industrial company, which used the entire heat of the plant, closed its doors. They had to come up with something new. Now, their efforts have been impressively successful and, in addition, added value has been created for the environment and for regional farms. THINK RED 07.2020 | 31 THINK RED 07.2020 | 31

Instead of building additional storage room for digestate in order to meet the new requirements of the fertilizer regulations, a digestate processing system was installed. duce up to 3 MWh of electricity and, at the same time, to fully utilize the rated output of 13,000 MWh per year and to generate further income. Further adjustments were made to the sub- strate mix and the feeding technology. The plan envisaged replacing silage, and especially corn silage, with chicken, turkey and, above all, cattle dung from regional farms. This resulted in several advantages for the system: on the one hand, a financial advan- tage, because the system is remunerated on the basis of the German Renewable Energy Sources Act 2012 (EEG2012). It assigns dung to material class II, for which a fee that is 2 cents higher per kWh of electric- ity is granted. On the other hand, the volume of the fed substrates or the digestate to be dispensed is reduced, which means that overall fewer reservoir volumes and transports are required. And the new concept also offers advantages for business partners from agri- culture and the environment. Since the dung is first fermented in the biogas plant and is no longer spread directly on the fields, methane emissions are signifi- cantly reduced. At the same time, chimeras and weeds are largely killed in the process, thus reducing the need for plant-health measures. However, analysis of the plant also showed that the viscosity of the suspension in the digester was already borderline. Reliably thorough mixing was not guaran- teed. There were problems with the mixers, including a blade breaking. Furthermore, the solid matter feeding system was nearing the end of its technical service life. It was clear that it would not be possible to switch to dung as the main input material without making adjustments to the solid matter incorporation. The switch from silage to chicken, turkey and, above all, cattle dung brought financial advantages, a reduction in methane emissions and fewer transports. New concept for the separation of digestate First, the digestate is separated. The worth for trans- portation of the solid fraction obtained in this way is increased significantly. It requires considerably fewer trips to spread it over the fields as fertilizer using a manure spreader. Some of the liquid fraction resulting from the separation is fed back into the digester, where it reduces the viscosity of the suspension. Another part is evaporated using the waste heat and further cleaned in the process. An ammonium sulfate solution (ASL) is created, which is used as a mineral fertilizer in more distant arable regions. At the same time, around 20 m3 of water is discharged from the circuit daily. More- over, an additional, identically constructed MWM CHP was put into operation in order to flexibly pro- THINK RED 07.2020 | 33

Concentrated know-how of various partners flows into the state-supported FlexPump project. FlexPump – Development and demonstration of a pump- based mixing concept for the flexible, efficiency-optimized and multi-feedstock-capable operation of biogas plants The further expansion of the renewable electricity system requires economical, optimized and flexible operation of existing and new bio- gas plants. Taking into account the given advantages such as reliabil- ity, controllability and the wide range of possible applications, efficient concepts and technologies must be developed that guarantee sustain- able, profitable operation in the long term, regardless of government funding. There is immense potential here in optimizing the mixing of the suspension in the digester, combined with an efficient and tar- geted technology for substrate incorporation and pretreatment. As part of the joint project, an overall system for the hydraulic mixing of biogas reactors is being developed and tested and optimized under practical conditions on a pilot scale. Each project partner takes on a specific area of responsibility. Fraunhofer IKTS develops a process concept and evaluates the mixing process using process tomography and numerical flow simulation. The adaptation and optimization of the pump system and its process parameters are carried out by Vogelsang. In addition, a concept for regulating the overall process is being devel- oped. A&U is responsible for the integration of the pump-based mixing system in the Nohra biogas plant, including the evaluation of the mix- ing system under practical conditions. But the practical testing is still in the optimization phase. Andreas Kellner, Biocraft Nohra, is already sat- isfied with the initial results. But he hasn’t reached the end of the proverbial flagpole, either. The aim is to fur- ther increase the dung content. In addition, together with his partner Bernd Schmitz from A&U, he already has further plans for straw to replace parts of the cur- rent feed ration in the near future. One thing is clear to both: Without the Vogelsang technology for processing the substrates or organic suspension, even what has been achieved so far would be unthinkable. THINK RED 07.2020 | 35 Microscopic images of the solids before and after treatment with the DisRuptor show the effect of mechanical disintegration. on microscopic images. Formerly smooth surfaces resemble a high mountain landscape, traversed by ravines and craters. The suspension prepared in this way is then also led back into the upper region of the digester, where the fermenting bacteria benefit from the enlarged surface and easier access to the nutrients. As a side effect, both measures reduce the viscosity of the suspension, and this is clearly noticeable. Less silage. Manure content increased to 70 percent Since the start-up of the PreMix liquid feeding and the mechanical disintegration with the DisRuptor, the dung content has increased from 15 to 70 percent. As a logi- cal consequence of the increased dung content and the reduced supply of liquid manure and corn silage, the dry matter content in the digester rose from May 2019 to June 2020 by over 2 percent to 14.3 percent, although the centrifugate from the separation is partly returned. In the literature, such a suspension is often referred to as no longer pumpable. In Nohra, the viscosity fell continuously from 17.95 Pa s to 3.3 Pa s over the same period (measured at a shear rate of 10 s-1). Further investigations and analyses as part of the project confirm the initial results. Simulations show significantly better mixing of the digester. At the same time, the power consumption of the mixers fell. No wonder that those involved are eagerly awaiting further results.

COLLABORATION WITH ADDED VALUE More about Ruhrverband on page 41 Together with Ruhrverband, Vogelsang developed the XRipper XRG186 modified wastewater cutter T he company Ruhrverband is responsible for many important jobs within the 4,478 square kilometers of the Ruhr river basin. It main- tains eight dams and five reservoirs, and thus ensures the drinking water supply for around 4.6 million people. The public water man- agement company also operates more than 60 sewage treatment plants that purify the wastewater of 2.2 mil- lion people every day. For more than 100 years, Ruhrverband has been ensuring the purity and quality of the Ruhr’s water. The company is also responsible for around 160 pumping stations and 558 rainwater treatment systems. Ruhrverband is also clearly feeling the increas- ing challenges in the wastewater industry. More and more frequently, wet wipes and sanitary items that consumers dispose of via the toilet are causing clog- ging in pumps and channels. Most recently, the coro- navirus pandemic has also exacerbated the wastewater situation. When some people hoarded toilet paper, that meant that other parts of the population resorted to ill-advised alternatives, such as tissues, paper towels or wet wipes. However, it takes a long time for these materials to decompose. This results in: malfunctions in the wastewater infrastructure. THINK RED 07.2020 | 37

How the XRipper XRG works This series of the XRipper wastewater grinders is designed for high delivery rates, or high proportions of disruptive matter in large sewers. It shreds rubbish in waste- water, such as wet wipes and cleaning rags, in an energy-efficient manner. The wastewater grinder is equipped with a new variant of the so-called High Capacity Units. Each consists of a rotating perforated screen drum. While the water passes through the grinder largely unhindered, High Capacity Units hold the disruptive matter in place and continuously convey them to the center of the grinder, where the monolithic one-piece ripper rotors shred them. This prevents clogging and blockages in the downstream pumps and sewage system. The new XRipper XRG186 is equipped with a 1.82 meter high and 1.22 meter wide shredding chamber and is therefore designed for even higher delivery rates of up to 7,140 cubic meters per hour. Four centrifugal pumps are installed in the Witten pumping station to pump the wastewater. One pump for dry weather, which has a maximum delivery rate of 220 liters per second. In rainy weather, two of three From left: Rüdiger Ernsting, Sales at Vogelsang; Sven Cybulski, Technician, Maintenance Management at Ruhrverband; Dirk Burghardt, Group Leader Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical and Electrical Maintenance Management at Ruhrverband; Harald Vogelsang, Managing Director of Vogelsang; and Torsten Burhorst, Team Leader Research & Development, Shredding Technology at Vogelsang other dry-installed centrifugal pumps with a total out- put of a maximum of 700 liters per second are used – one pump is always available as a reserve in case of emergency. This is known as a redundant system. In addition to the four pumps for wastewater, the build- ing also houses three flood pumps. The centrifugal pumps often became clogged due to a large quantity of wet wipes, hygienic articles and other disruptive matter in the wastewater. THINK RED 07.2020 | 39

Ruhrverband in numbers 107 years old Ruhr river basin 4,478 square kilometers Drinking water supply for 4.6 million people 60 cities and municipalities 160 pumping stations 64 sewage treatment plants d n a b r e v r h u R © Belong to Ruhrverband: 8 dams 5 reservoirs 558 rainwater treatment plants Over 300 kilometers of sewers and penstocks Headquarters of Ruhrverband in Essen Ruhrverband Ruhrverband was founded in 1913 and is a public water management company with its headquarters in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia. The company ensures the water supply for 4.6 million people and the purification of wastewater for 60 cities and municipalities. In the catchment area of almost 4,478 square kilometers, the company checks and maintains over 300 kilometers of sewers and pressure pipes. In addition, Ruhrverband operates five reservoirs, eight dams and 64 sewage treatment plants, 558 rainwater treatment systems and 160 pumping stations. Ruhrverband powerfully assists environmental protection efforts since in a global comparison, the Ruhr is now one of the world’s cleanest rivers located in an industrial region. Sensitive fish species, such as trout, grayling and even salmon, now feel at home there. THINK RED 07.2020 | 41

FAR TOO GOOD FOR THE BIN Processing of waste. The RedUnit industrial grinder for the feed industry There is waste in almost every production area. This is also the case with the production of bread. In large bakeries and supermarkets there are tons of bread every day that have to be sorted out for various reasons. However, this waste contains many valuable raw materials and is far too good “for the bin.” THINK RED 07.2020 | 43

Top left: RedUnit XRL186-520QD: the hardened ripper rotors also effortlessly shred metal parts. Top right: Bread deliveries often contain metal parts such as knives, dough scrapers and whole baking trays, which are a problem for conventional machines. Raw material delivery in the drying facility for the hardened ripper rotors of the RedUnit. With the right granulation, these foreign bodies can be removed without residue in a subsequent step, as required by the applicable feed regulations. After installing the RedUnit in the customer’s system and making individual settings tailored to the production process, it performs reliably and thus helps the customer to eliminate oversized grain. In addition, it shreds the material into optimal granula- tion for the subsequent processes. It is even possible to increase the throughput. After a few days of testing, it became clear that the RedUnit was the ideal solu- tion for this application and that the rental system could be dismantled. However, the customer never wanted to be without the new product one more day and bought the built-in RedUnit immediately. 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 & 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 07.2020 | 45

VOICES FOR VOGELSANG. FRANK WADLINGER As part of our commitment campaign, we are again presenting a satisfied Vogelsang customer in this issue. This time our customer voice comes from Münster. “ WE AT THE WESTFALEN GROUP CHOSE VOGELSANG, because it enables us to guarantee the mobility of our guests as best as possible.” Frank Wadlinger, operator of Westfalen petrol station in Münster, Germany O ur premises are almost 12,000 m2 and offer our customers 20 fuel pumps, a hydrogen tank system, a shop with drive-in and a truck wash. In addition, we offer a car wash and self-service washing areas as well as a supply and disposal station for coaches and camping vehicles. During regular service and on day trips, a lot of wastewater accumulates in the collection tanks of the on-board toilets. With the coach drivers’ tight sched- ules, wastewater disposal and drinking water sup- ply must be quick, easy and still professional. With the RoadPump from Vogelsang, we have found a reliable solution to reduce the stops of the buses to a minimum. The handling for the drivers is simple and hygienic, so that the system has been well accept- ed by our customers. THINK RED 07.2020 | 47

Top: Rothenschirmbach from a bird’s eye view, with the new production hall at the rear Right: The plant construction department in Rothenschirmbach specializes in distribution technology in liquid manure spreading. Bottom: The spare parts area in the new production hall (left half of the hall) THINK RED 07.2020 | 49

At a glance 1993: Foundation of the Rothenschirmbach branch with 4 employees 2010: Construction of a second production hall (18 m x 40 m) 2013: Construction of a third production hall (18 m x 40 m) 2018: Planning and construction of a fourth production hall (40 m x 48 m) 2019: Planning and construction of a social building (12 m x 18 m) Number of employees in 2020: 44 Here you can see the construction of the hall as a quick reference: Top: Plant construction department Left, from left to right: work preparation and production department, Nico Hahn, Anke Eilert and Henry Ribbe cabinet to the Osterhausen fire department. The branch also provided financial support for the pur- chase of non-fiction books to the elementary school in Osterhausen and the renovation of the fire brigade in Rothenschirmbach. TEAM SPIRIT IS VERY IMPORTANT The location has grown from three employees in the first few years to over forty. In the last year alone, six new employees were added. In 2019 the branch received the “Spirit of Enterprise Award,” among other things for its employee retention. “Our ‘permanent staff ’ have been with us for years. That the staff feel so connected to the company is certainly also due to the fact that we have actively involved them in tasks from the very start,” says Köhler and adds: “This also applies to our trainees. And the staff ’s interest in the work and technology as well as their mutual trust have also been a factor.” The team also overcame the peak of the first coronavirus crisis together. A transparent action plan helped the employees to easily comply with a hygiene concept and safety distancing. Thanks to the spatial expansions, the staff in the industrial and commer- cial department were all able to be on-site at the same time. The production department, on the other hand, worked separately in early and late shifts. “Thanks to everyone’s commitment and flexibility, we were able to meet the deadlines and delivery times. But we are par- ticularly happy that we neither had to put employees on short-time work nor lay them off,” says Köhler to sum- marize the situation. THINK RED 07.2020 | 51

Born in 1961, Dietmar Köhler has been a branch manager and sales engineer at Vogelsang Rothenschirmbach since 2008. The graduate engineer has worked in various positions in the wastewater segment for more than 40 years and joined the eastern German branch in sales in 2002. THINK RED 07.2020 | 53

Björn Freye Position: Team Leader System Integration, Trainer Job description: Support and administration of workplaces and server farms at an international level, providing IT support to Vogelsang employees worldwide, ensuring system security Team: 3 employees for the area of System Integration, 2 apprentices in the field of IT for System Integration At Vogelsang since: 11/1/2005 Professional career: Trained as an IT specialist in System Integration at a multinational corporation; started at Vogelsang as a network administrator, passed the instructor aptitude test and is now in charge as a team leader and trainer young talent. This is a task he takes on fully. Training is a top priority at Vogelsang – because it ensures the success of the next generation. “And it is very enjoy- able to accompany the trainees from the beginning, to impart knowledge and to train them to become responsible and competent specialists of tomorrow. The shortage of skilled workers is a problem in the IT area in particular, and we want to proactively counter this from the outset,” says Freye, explaining his work as a trainer at Vogelsang. Working with a high degree of personal responsibility! Despite its rapid and international growth, Vogelsang has retained its charm as a family company with flat hierarchies. “Management’s trust in the employees and managers is very high. That gives me the freedom I need! We have goals – but the way to get there can be shaped by us. I just enjoy being in the company because I enjoy working here!” 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. THINK RED 07.2020 | 55