In early 2023, Paneltech, a UK-based manufacturer, sought to modernise its wood waste management and industrial heating by installing a Ranheat WA 300 wood-waste heater and a C25 4m 1 Ring Industrial Wood Waste Silo. Their old system relied on manual wood waste handling, including bag-based dust extraction and hand-loading their heater, causing inefficiencies and high labour costs. By upgrading to a fully automated wood waste system, they eliminated manual fuel loading and dust handling, improving workplace safety, heating efficiency, and waste processing. This case study explores how the Ranheat solution transformed their wood waste management and industrial biomass heating.
Before working with Ranheat Engineering, Paneltech struggled with a labour-intensive wood waste management system that included:
Operations Director, Ross Larner, described the previous system’s inefficiencies:
“The staff hated changing the bags. It was a dirty, labour-intensive task that required PPE, and it meant machines had to be turned off. Our heater also needed constant loading, making it a full-time job to keep running.”
To modernise their wood waste management system, Paneltech needed a fully automated solution that would:
The Ranheat WA 300 is a 300kW industrial wood-waste heater, designed to burn wood dust, chips, and offcuts efficiently. The project involved:
The new C25 4m 1 Ring Industrial Wood Waste Silo and modified dust extraction system had to be installed at the rear of the factory, an area without vehicular access. This required:
This installation method allowed the system to be fully integrated without major site alterations.
By installing a woodchipper, offcuts are now:
Ross Larner summarised the transformation:
“Not having to manually load the heater and change dust extraction bags has removed two labour-intensive tasks that no one enjoyed. The factory is always warm, and our staff can focus on production instead of waste management.”
By upgrading to a Ranheat WA 300 system and integrating the C25 4m 1 Ring Industrial Wood Waste Silo, Paneltech has:
This case study highlights how Ranheat’s industrial wood waste heating solutions can help manufacturers reduce labour costs, improve efficiency, and optimise wood waste management.
For more information about Ranheat’s industrial biomass heating solutions, contact us today:
Phone: 01604 750005
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ranheat.com
| Project Statistics | |
| Business Type | Panel Processor |
| Industrial Wood Waste Warm Air Heater | WA 300 |
| Flue Gas Cleaning | Multicyclone Grit Arrestor |
| Vital | Automate the conveying of wood waste |
| Grate | Ranheat Fixed Grate |
| Silo | Existing Dust Extraction Placed on Top of C25 Silo |
This image captures the precision installation of a Ranheat C25 4m 1 Ring Industrial Wood Waste Silo at Paneltech using a 200-tonne crane. Due to limited site access, the silo had to be lifted over the factory and carefully positioned at the rear of the building. This silo plays a crucial role in Paneltech’s automated wood waste management system, working alongside a Ranheat WA 300 biomass heater to efficiently process and store wood dust, shavings, and offcuts for sustainable heating. This upgrade eliminates manual bag handling, improves factory heating efficiency, and enhances workplace safety and sustainability.
During a visit to Paneltech, Sadik Al-Hassan, MP of the United Kingdom, engaged with the company’s advanced wood waste management system, feeding the PRW Machinery wood chipper that processes wood offcuts into biomass fuel. Paneltech Director Ross Larner looks on as the chipped material is fed into the C25 4m 1 Ring Industrial Wood Waste Silo, where it is automatically stored and transferred to the Ranheat WA 300 industrial biomass heating system.
This sustainable energy solution eliminates manual wood waste disposal, improves factory heating efficiency, and demonstrates how biomass heating technology can support carbon reduction goals and renewable energy initiatives in the UK.
This image showcases Ross Larner and Sadik Al-Hassan, MP, standing outside Paneltech’s custom-built burner room, which houses the Ranheat WA 300 industrial biomass heater. This facility is designed to automate wood waste management, with fuel being fed directly from the C25 4m 1 Ring Silo into the heating system.
By integrating biomass heating technology, Paneltech has eliminated manual waste handling, improved factory heating efficiency, and significantly reduced its carbon footprint. This setup demonstrates how industrial wood waste can be repurposed into a renewable energy source, making biomass heating a cost-effective and sustainable solution for manufacturing businesses.
