Demands on our resources
Our pellets are manufactures using untreated natural wood in combination with authorized pressing aid (plant starch). Origin and source of our raw materials are in the course of our quality management system continuously recorded and ducumented. For instance, foreign substances such as wood representative, glues and/or plastics, paints and other coating materials are excluded.
Sampling before Delivery
We take representative samples of our pellets prior to the transfer of goods and keep a protocol of handed over matarial. The following valves are documented:
- Abrasion
- Humidity
- Volume wight
- Dimensions
From shaving to Pellet
Pellets are pressed from dried wood shavings. Two types of raw materials can be distinguished. A sawmill residual wood is used. These are wood chips and saw dust shavings as well as co-products called waste or by-products in the sawmill industry. For several years, we are also producing our own chips. In addition, so-called industrial wood, round wood (logs) not suitable for sawing, is used. The wood is debarked and reduced to a coarse chip. Then the chip is fed to the manufactoring process for production of pellets.
The chips are further crushed in the hammer mills to the desired grain size, dried and the pelletized. To this end, the previously hot steam conditioned chip cake will be pressed through a steel die, similar to a meat grinder. Temperature, humidity and pressure assure that the wood's own lignin, a polymer that is responsible for the firmness in the plant tissue, liquidizes. Through the subsequent cooling, in which the lignin hardens again, the pellets get their firmness. They can be stored in silos before they are either bagged or transported in bulk by truck.
Not all Pellets are the same Pellets
With pellets, it depends on the quality. For your pellet heating system or your pellet stove to operate efficiently and trouble free, our pellet production is monitored constantly. Meticulous quality control, excellently trained staff and modern equipment guarantee a high quality pellet. Thus German Pellets stands above standards required by DINplus and ENplus A1 certificates.
German Pellets are better than the Standard
Specifications of Quality Pellets
ENplus | DINplus | German Pellets | |
Diameter (mm) | 6 ± 1,0 | 6 ± 1,0 | 6 ± 1,0 |
Length (mm) | 3,15 ≤ L ≤ 40 | 3,15 ≤ L ≤ 40 | 3,15 ≤ L ≤ 40 |
Calorific value (MJ/kg) | 16,5 ≤ Q ≤ 19,0 | 16,5 ≤ Q ≤ 19,0 | ≥ 18,0 |
Water content (%) | ≤ 10,0 | ≤ 10,0 | 7,0 - 9,0 |
Fines (%) | ≤ 1,0 | ≤ 1,0 | ≤ 1,0 |
Abrasion (%) | ≤ 2,5 | ≤ 2,3 | < 1,5 |
Ash content (%) | ≤ 0,7 | ≤ 0,7 | < 0,5 |
Ash softening temperature (C) | ≥ 1200 | not specified | ca. 1400 |
Pressing aid (%) | ≤ 2,0 | ≤ 2,0 | ≤ 1,0 |
Flow density (kg/m3) | ≥ 600 | ≥ 600 | ≥ 600 |
Sulfur content (%) | ≤ 0,03 | ≤ 0,03 | ≤ 0,03 |
Nitrogen content (%) | ≤ 0,3 | ≤ 0,3 | ≤ 0,3 |
Chlorine content (%) | ≤ 0,02 | ≤ 0,02 | ≤ 0,02 |
Monitoring the Production
The production of German Pellets is monitored constantly. This way we guarantee a consistent high quality pellet.
- Self monitoring: Regular samples are taken and all the important parameters are examined and documented. This is done in accordance with the requirements of the quality management as per ENplus A 1 and DINplus. At German Pellets we conduct this investigation even more frequently than the required standards.
- Outside monitoring: A state-authorized test commission undertakes yearly unannounced inspections in accordancewith ENplus A1 an d DINplus certification programs of our pellet plants. It also examines the compliance of the quality management system and the result of the self-monitoring activity.
- Modern equipment of the pellet plant.