Heading Towards A Greener Future

Location: Nottingham

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In December, Boam Joinery took a significant step towards sustainability by installing a new Briquette Press. This investment is part of their strategy to improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

The Briquette Press turns waste wood into biomass briquettes, a renewable energy source used for heating the factory. This not only cuts down on waste but also lessens reliance on non-renewable energy, aligning with the company's commitment to sustainable practices.

How Does A Briquette Press Work?

- Preparation of Wooden Waste: The process starts with collecting wooden waste like sawdust, wood chips and shavings etc. It is essential that the wood is dry, as moisture can hinder the briquetting process.

- Size Reduction: The collected wooden waste is then chopped or shredded into smaller pieces. This step ensures uniformity in size, which is crucial for efficient compression and consistent briquette quality.

- Feeding into the Briquette Press: The dried wooden waste is then fed into the briquette press. This can be done manually or automatically, depending on the system's configuration.

- Compression: Inside the briquette press, the wooden waste is subjected to high pressure, often with the help of a hydraulic or screw mechanism. This pressure compresses the wood particles, heating them slightly and causing the wood's natural lignin to act as a binder. Lignin, when heated, becomes plastic-like and binds the particles together.

- Formation of Briquettes: Under pressure, the wood material is formed into a dense, cohesive mass – the briquette. These briquettes can be various shapes and sizes, typically cylindrical or rectangular.

- Cooling and Storing: The newly formed briquettes are then ejected from the press and left to cool. As they cool, they harden and stabilise, becoming strong enough to handle and store. Once cooled, they are ready to be packaged and used as a renewable source of energy.

- The biomass briquettes produced by this process are eco-friendly and provide a sustainable alternative to traditional fossil fuels. They have a lower carbon footprint and are used in heating systems and industrial boilers.

By integrating this eco-friendly technology, Boam Joinery demonstrates how businesses can adopt sustainable solutions without sacrificing operational effectiveness. This move highlights their role in promoting environmental responsibility within the joinery industry and their continued efforts to balance business objectives with ecological considerations.

Boam Joinery's initiative is a step towards a more sustainable future, showcasing the practical benefits of incorporating renewable energy sources into business operations.