Suvarna Garge (Editor)

German Pellets

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Industry
  
wood

Headquarters
  
Wismar

Founded
  
2005

Number of employees
  
around 650 (07/2013)

Revenue
  
519 million EUR (2012)

German Pellets wwwgermanpelletsdefileadminimageslogogif

Type
  
Limited liability company (GmbH)

Key people
  
Peter H. Leibold (managing director)

Website
  
www.german-pellets.de/en.html

Subsidiaries
  
German Pellets Holding Italia S.R.L.

German pellets geldanlage genussrecht


German Pellets is a German production company based in Wismar, Germany. The company produces various kinds of wood pellets for pellet heating and pellet ovens and animal hygiene products for horses, large and small animals. German Pellets produces high-level premium pellets, which are DINplus and ENplus A1 certified. Furthermore, the company is now producing industrial pellets for large combustion systems. It was founded in 2005 by Peter H. Leibold and its first plant constructed in Wismar.

Contents

The company operates world-wide, with a particular focus on Denmark, Italy, and the United Kingdom. It has 19 production sites in Germany, Austria and the USA, with a yearly output of 2.2 million tons per year (status August 2013) and a second US plant planned. It is the largest manufacturer and distributor of wood pellets in Europe and claims to be the world's largest. Its dealer network includes more than 100 fuel dealers in Germany. On February 10, 2016, the company filed for insolvency in self-administration.

Business area

German Pellets is producing wood pellets of different qualities for pellet heating and pellet ovens,for industry boiler plants, for heat supply of house building, industry, business, municipality and for combined heat and power stations.

Pellet Production

Pellets are pressed from dried wood shavings, of which two different types of primary materials are used. Residual wood from sawmills is used, taking the wood chips and the sawdust, both conventionally seen as waste or by-products. For a few years now the company has also produced their own wood chippings; alongside the residual wood material, they make use of "industrial" wood which is unsuitable for sawing. The wood is then debarked and then reduced to course chips. Following this process, the chippings are then introduced into the pellet manufacturing process. The chips are further crushed in the hammer mills to the desired particle size, dried and then pelletized. To do this, the chip layer is conditioned with superheated steam and 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 issue, liquidizes. Through the subsequent cooling, during which the lignin hardens again, the pellets achieve their firmness. They are stored in silos before they are either bagged or transported by truck.

Quality Wood Pellets

Wood pellets are a standardized fuel. German Pellets GmbH produces high-level Premium Pellets, which are DINplus and ENplus A1 certified. These pellets are suited for small firing systems. Furthermore, the company is now producing industrial pellets for large combustion systems.

Sale of pellets

German Pellets sells its pellets throunghout Europe via an area-wide dealer network. In Germany more than 100 dealers of fuels offer the pellets.

Subsidiaries

German Pellets has several subsidiaries, including an Austrian subsidiary and one that offers its pellets as a green investment trading vehicle. The German Horse Pellets GmbH, the German Pellets Wärme GmbH, the German Pellets Genussrechte GmbH, the FireStixx Holz-Energie GmbH and the Austrian Hot'ts/Glechner-Gruppe are belonging to the German Pellets group.

German Horse Pellets GmbH

Founded in 2008 the German Horse Pellets GmbH is specialised to the development and sale of animal hygiene products. The production of woodchips, granules and pellets for horses, large and small animals take place at the production sites Wismar (Mecklenburg-West Pomerania) and Wilburgstetten (Bavaria). All products are based on natural raw materials and manufactured without supplementing additives.

German Pellets Wärme GmbH

The German Pellets Wärme GmbH offers full packages of warmth. They are planning, building and financing all measures, which are necessary for renovation, installation or building of pellet heating plants.

German Pellets Genussrechte GmbH

The pellet producer offers investment vehicles via the German Pellets Genussrechte GmbH. It was founded in 2010. Wooden pellets as a financial investment have become part of green investments or ethical investments.

FireStixx Holz-Energie GmbH

The FireStixx Holz-Energie GmbH as acquired by German Pellets group in 2011. Since 2001 they have concentrated on the commerce and production of wood pellets. They have a network of pellet dealers and producers.

Hot'ts-/Glechner-Gruppe, Glechner GesmbH

On 1 January 2012, Glechner GesmbH was acquired by German Pellets group. They have several production sites in Austria. Since 1996, they have been producing and selling wood pellets.

German Pellets Holding Italia

Italian operating subsidiary; founded 2012, acquired Ely S.p.A. in December 2012.

References

German Pellets Wikipedia