Andritz Hydro

Visit at Andritz Hydro GmbH, a global market leader for systems for the hydropower, the pulp and paper.

Visit to Andritz Hydro GmbH, Weiz

Departing from Vienna, on the bus to Weiz (near Graz), the Trade Delegates were accompanied by Mr. Michael Sommer (Senior Sales Manager, Andritz Hydro), who turned out to be a popular tour guide by entertaining his guests with stories about Austrian history and famous Styrian countrymen in particular.

Arriving at the Andritz factory, the Trade Delegates received a warm welcome by Dr. Harald Heber, a member of the executive board of Andritz Hydro, followed by presentations of the companies Andritz AG, done by Dr. Heber, and Andritz Pulp and Paper done by Mr Bjørn Hansen.

Global market leader

The Andritz Group is a global market leader for customized plant, systems and services for the hydropower, the pulp and paper, the metal processing and other specialized industries (e.g. solid/liquid separation, feed and biofuel) and has more than 150 production and service sites and has grown to employ about 13,200 employees worldwide through organic expansion and acquisitions.

About 25% of Group?s order intake is attributed to Andritz Pulp and Paper and its systems for the production of all types of pulp and certain paper grades. About 50% of the Group?s order intake comes from Andritz Hydro, a global supplier of electromechanical equipment, systems and services for hydropower plants. This company is a leader in the world market for turn-key hydroelectric power generation, ?From Water to Wire".

Hydro Power currently meets about 20 percent of the world?s electricity needs. Most medium-term scenarios predict that future globel power needs will be primarily met through a combination of various new, renewable and fossil fuel resources. But, according to current forecasts, awareness of global warming (due to CO2 emissions from fossil fuel plants and other sources) will lead to a significant political pressure against fossil fuel plants in the next decade. As a result, the demand for Hydro Power should grow.

170 years of turbine experience

Andritz Hydro looks back on more than 170 years of turbine experience, with over 30,000 turbines (more than 400,000 MW) installed worldwide. Compact Hydo is a world leader in products and services for small and medium hydro power plants up to 30 MW power output per unit. Hydro Power Plants (Large Hydro) takes care of the installation of turn-key hydro power plants andhydro mechanical structures, penstocks & gates. The Andritz Service & Rehab unit delivers solutions, products and services over the entire life cycle of the hydro power plant. Andritz is also a solution provider for secondary equipment and services for hydro power plants.

The company holds more than 70 % world market share of the bulb turbine sector.

Manufacturing in the "Oststeirische Hügelland"

After the eminently interesting company presentations our delegation of 42 people split into two groups and Dr. Walter Scheidl (Vice President and Chief Engineer, Hydro Generators) and Mr Sommer gave a tour of the company site: The factory in Weiz north plant covers about 100,000 sqm, including 60,000 sqm of manufacturing space (with machinery for bending, grinding, stamping, drilling and testing) and about 18,000 sqm of offices.

The Trade Delegates were particularly impressed by the production site, where various parts of generators are manufactured, which may be later assembled at the construction sites. Despite the huge size of the metal parts, still a lot of fine work like taping has to be done by hand.

Finally the company invited the Trade Delegates to a ?Steierische Buschenschank?, a wine tavern, to round off the impressive and informative event in a very nice and typical Austrian hospitality location, where we all could finish the day in a very relaxed manner.