apt Group Starts 2025 with successful production optimisation at its Monheim and Cheb Locations

At the start of the new year, apt Group launched a new billet oven with preheating capabilities for the extrusion line P35 at its Monheim location. Despite the challenging market conditions, the apt Group has used this economically demanding time to implement comprehensive modernisation measures at its production sites in Monheim and Cheb.

The new system optimises the heating process of aluminium billets in three cutting-edge steps:

1. Preheating: Aluminium billets are preheated to 90°C using residual heat in a closed-loop system, minimising evaporation losses.

1. High-Convection Preheating Zone: The billets are heated to 200°C before entering the main oven.
2. Final Tempering: In the main oven, the billets are further heated to approximately 400°C. An induction module ensures precise head temperatures to optimise the extrusion process.

Key benefits of the extrusion press modernisation include:

1. Increased energy efficiency: Innovative technologies, such as multi-stage waste heat utilisation, improve thermal efficiency by 15 per cent.
2. Improved product quality: Consistent billet heating and precise control of profile temperatures ensure high-quality results in dimensional accuracy, strength, and surface finish.
3. Higher metal yield: Switching from a shear to a billet saw reduces material loss, enabling more efficient resource utilisation.
4. Lower tooling costs: Reduced tool wear decreases operating costs while boosting productivity.

The company has also undertaken modernisation efforts at the apt Cheb site (Czech Republic). On approximately 9,000 square metres, apt processes aluminium sheets and profiles into sophisticated and complex products.

The newly commissioned compressed air system with a Kaeser compressor is now operating. The Kaeser air compressor is vital for generating compressed air and is an indispensable resource in many industrial processes, including apt Products Cheb. The compressor features frequency exchange control, allowing it to adjust in real-time to production demands. Additional integral components of the modernisation include:

• A new air dryer
• A filtering cell
• An eco-friendly disposal system for condensation by-products

Key benefits include:

1. Cost savings: Optimised air supply significantly reduces energy costs.
2. Sustainability: Lower CO2 emissions contribute to achieving environmental goals.
3. System reliability: The design includes a backup system to prevent production downtime during compressor failure.

Michael Zint, CEO of the apt Group, expresses his satisfaction: "The modernisation of the extrusion line P35.0 and the compressed air system marks another milestone in our efforts to make production processes more efficient and sustainable. This enables us to continue combining top product quality with maximum resource conservation in the future."