Review of MARTIN LOHSE GmbH / Maschinenbau Lohse GmbH Products for Organic Waste Depackaging and Separation
MARTIN LOHSE GmbH / Maschinenbau Lohse GmbH produces specialized machinery, primarily known for the Bio-mechanical Wet Treatment Plant, used to process biowaste, food waste, and household waste through wet fermentation. This equipment is marketed as a solution for creating low-contaminant organic suspensions suitable for applications like biogas production. The technology involves a pulper-based system designed to dissolve organic waste without using shredding or grinding, which could lead to microplastic contamination.
This article examines the features, strengths, and limitations of Lohse’s products for organic waste processing, focusing on the Bio-mechanical Wet Treatment Plant as it is presented by the manufacturer, alongside any publicly available data.
Overview of Lohse’s Bio-mechanical Wet Treatment Plant
The Bio-mechanical Wet Treatment Plant by Lohse is described as a system for processing various organic waste types, including food waste, biowaste, and pre-sorted household waste. According to the manufacturer, the equipment operates using a pulper system that agitates organic waste materials to separate heavy contaminants without requiring additional grinding or shredding, an approach claimed to minimize microplastic formation. Key features include:
- Waste Pulper: Designed to break down organic material through agitation, separating out heavy impurities.
- Downstream Screening Device: Conducts further impurity removal from the organic suspension.
- Low Maintenance Design: Engineered with fewer wear parts and minimal interference for ongoing operation.
- Throughput Capacity: Systems are available in sizes that can handle up to approximately 12 tons per hour.
Technical Specifications and Process Details
1. Pulper System
The core of the system, the pulper, is marketed as a non-shredding solution that dissolves organic components, with the potential to increase surface area and improve fermentability for biogas production. The design is described as intended to avoid producing microplastics by relying on agitation rather than grinding.
2. Screening and Impurity Removal
Post-pulping, a screening device reportedly separates additional impurities from the suspension. The manufacturer claims this approach reduces the risk of floating contaminants within the organic suspension, which can be beneficial for certain processing applications like anaerobic digestion.
3. Closed System Configuration
Lohse describes the system as a closed structure, which, according to their product literature, aims to reduce odor emissions and limit contaminant exposure, allowing for operation with potentially lower environmental impact.
Marketed Strengths of Lohse Equipment for Organic Waste Processing
1. Claimed Avoidance of Microplastic and Nanoplastic Creation
According to Lohse’s materials, the Bio-mechanical Wet Treatment Plant is specifically designed to avoid shredding or grinding, thereby aiming to prevent microplastic generation. This feature may appeal to facilities where avoiding microplastic contamination in organic output is a priority, particularly where regulatory compliance around organic purity is a factor.
2. Production of Pumpable Organic Suspension
The manufacturer states that the equipment produces a suspension with low contamination, suitable for anaerobic digestion. The increased surface area from pulping, as described, potentially supports gas yield in biogas facilities, although no specific data on yield increases is publicly provided.
3. Adjustable for Different Organic Waste Types
Lohse’s technology is marketed as adaptable to waste with dry matter content (DM) ranging from 15% (e.g., food waste) to 50% (e.g., manure or silage). This flexibility is highlighted as beneficial for waste processing facilities handling diverse organic inputs without significant adjustments.
4. Durable Construction and Lower Maintenance Requirements
Lohse emphasizes a durable system construction with minimal wear parts, which they suggest results in lower maintenance needs. Their marketing materials cite this design as advantageous for reducing operational downtime, although specific maintenance requirements or intervals are not detailed.
Reported Limitations of Lohse Equipment for Organic Waste Processing
1. Application Limits with Highly Contaminated Waste
The equipment is described as more effective with lower-contamination or pre-sorted waste streams. For facilities processing highly contaminated waste, additional pre-sorting steps may be required to optimize performance. The Bio-mechanical Wet Treatment Plant is not explicitly marketed for high-contamination municipal solid waste, which could limit its use for facilities that process large volumes of unsorted or highly mixed waste.
2. Initial Investment Considerations
The equipment’s advanced processing features suggest it may come with a relatively high initial cost compared to simpler depackaging systems, although exact pricing details are not available in the public domain. This could make it less accessible for smaller operations or facilities with limited budgets.
3. Throughput Capacity Constraints
According to the manufacturer, the largest models of the Bio-mechanical Wet Treatment Plant can handle up to approximately 12 tons per hour. Facilities with very high-volume needs may need to evaluate if multiple units are necessary to meet their processing requirements, which could impact operational costs and logistical complexity.
4. Complexity for Smaller Facilities
While the system offers several advanced features, smaller waste processing facilities may find the operational complexity challenging. The requirement for automated controls and trained operators may add additional resource demands, which could be a consideration for facilities used to simpler, less sophisticated waste processing equipment.
Case Studies and Real-World Applications
Specific case studies documenting the use of Lohse’s Bio-mechanical Wet Treatment Plant for pure organic waste processing are limited in publicly available sources. However, the manufacturer’s website mentions that the technology has been implemented in various European facilities:
1. Food Waste Processing in Germany
A food waste processing facility in Germany reportedly installed Lohse’s wet treatment technology to handle high-moisture organic waste for anaerobic digestion. The pulper system is said to have produced a low-contaminant suspension suitable for biogas production. Operators cited in general descriptions on Lohse’s website reported reductions in system maintenance, although details on specific maintenance metrics or quantifiable benefits are not disclosed.
2. Biowaste Facility in Austria
Another facility in Austria processing municipal biowaste reportedly uses Lohse equipment to improve organic separation quality. The pulping system, as described, enabled separation without grinding, which operators believed reduced contamination in the organic output. However, the extent to which these claims are quantifiable or documented through third-party sources is not stated.
Comparison with Alternative Depackaging and Separation Systems
Compared to other depackaging technologies that utilize shredding or grinding, the Lohse pulper system is marketed as an alternative designed to avoid plastic fragmentation. Shredding systems typically offer high throughput but may require additional separation steps to manage microplastics and contaminants, which could be relevant depending on a facility’s output purity requirements.
The Bio-mechanical Wet Treatment Plant’s system setup, with early impurity separation and non-destructive processing, positions it as a solution for certain environmental compliance needs; however, it may not match the throughput or lower upfront costs of simpler depackaging technologies. For facilities focused on minimizing equipment costs or maximizing simple high-volume processing, alternative depackaging solutions may be more practical depending on operational priorities.
Conclusion
The Bio-mechanical Wet Treatment Plant by MARTIN LOHSE GmbH is presented as a specialized system for organic waste processing, relying on a pulper-based design aimed at reducing contaminants in organic suspensions without generating microplastics. The system offers a range of features that could be of interest to facilities focused on biogas production and low-contaminant organic output.
Publicly available information indicates strengths in adaptability for different organic waste types, odor control, and reduced maintenance demands, as marketed by Lohse. However, its suitability appears more limited for facilities handling high-contamination waste or those requiring very high throughput capacities, which could necessitate additional sorting or handling equipment. The investment and operational complexity could also be considerations for smaller-scale or budget-restricted facilities.
Overall, the technology’s application for organic waste processing is largely as stated by the manufacturer, and further case studies or detailed field data could provide more concrete information on its performance outcomes in various waste processing scenarios.
Manufacturer of industrial equipment
Industry Sector: Industrial Equipment
Business Location: Germany
Address:
MARTIN LOHSE GmbH
Unteres Paradies 63
89522 Heidenheim
Germany
Phone: +49 (0) 73 21 / 7 55 – 0
E-Mail: sales@lohse-gmbh.de
Website:
Lohse: www.lohse-gmbh.de
Opening Hours:
8am to 5pm weekdays
