Uzelac Industries

Rotary Dryer Manufacturer

Bio-Solids Management Solution (BMS)

Europe’s Use of Wood Pellets for Energy is Fueling U.S. Opportunity

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As Europe increases its use of wood pellets to supplement coal as an energy source, U.S. wood pellet producers are exporting more pellets across “the pond.” From 2012 to 2013, wood pellet exports from the U.S. nearly doubled, with more than 98% of all exports shipping to Europe, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

In 2013, the U.S. was the world’s top wood pellet-producing country (5.7 million metric tons), followed by Germany (2.2 million metric tons) and Canada (1.8 million metric tons), according to the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organization. When it came to exporting wood pellets, the U.S. and Canada topped the list.

Europe’s increasing demand for wood pellets has been driven mainly by requirements of the European Union’s climate and energy use goals for 2020. In response, new pellet processing plants are appearing in the U.S., especially in southeast and mid-Atlantic states accessible to wood harvesting areas and shipping ports. Some of these new plants can produce 500,000 metric tons of wood pellets per year. [Read more…] about Europe’s Use of Wood Pellets for Energy is Fueling U.S. Opportunity

An Earth-Friendly, Wallet-Friendly Alternative to Biosolids Management

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When it comes to biosolids management, there are three traditional solutions, none of which truly address the future.

These three solutions are to mechanically dewater solids and then transfer them to a landfill; mechanically dewater solids and then incinerate them; and land applications which can be accomplished in two fashions: storing solids in liquid form in a holding tank until injecting them into the ground, or drying the product into a fertilizer type of product. The third method can be problematic, as DNRs are often prohibiting this due to pollution/ground contamination. All three methods are either very costly, finite, and/or not earth-friendly; what happens when landfill space doesn’t exist anymore? Where will we be in 20 years?

This is where we come in. At Uzelac, we offer a unique alternative: our Biosolids Management Solution (BMS). Unlike incineration, which requires more energy from fossil fuels, we take the same concept, but dry the product to 90% solids, then burn it in a furnace, using the heat from that burning process to run it through the dryer. This greatly reduces the fuel requirement, using fuel only to start up, and therefore acts as a self-sufficient system.

As a result, over 90% less volume is placed in landfills, and fuel costs associated with incineration are eliminated. Only the hazard-free ash by-product remains, and the overall environmental impact is significantly reduced. Capital costs are less than 25% of the cost of incineration, resulting in a fast return on investment.

For many American municipalities, the cost of replacing an incinerator could be upwards of $30 million. Alternatively, our BMS system could handle the same volume for a fraction of the cost. Furthermore, landfill use can be anywhere from $25/ton to $80/ton depending on the region, and since our system produces so much less volume, cost savings are enormous. The remaining ash by-product has a market value as an aggregate product. Furthermore, the system is significantly smaller than an incinerator.

The BMS system uses technology that’s been proven for decades, but in a novel approach, resulting in lower operating costs, less energy use, and decreased landfill requirements—overall, a green, money-saving alternative that addresses the current and future needs of biosolids management.

2013: a Great New Year for a Great New Business Opportunity

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There’s good news ahead for those of you who want to make capital equipment investments this year. The Section 179 deduction, a tax credit enabling American businesses to receive tax deductions on industrial equipment purchases of up to $2,000,000, has been reinstated for yet another year. Originally adopted under the Bush Administration, the credit has survived the recent fiscal battles on Capitol Hill, and businesses across the U.S. have reason to celebrate, as well as to take advantage. After all, facts are facts. Whether you wish to buy new and/or used industrial equipment, machinery, transportation, or even software systems, you can deduct the full amount of any business-related purchase of up to $500,000. Now who amongst us doesn’t strive to lower his or her bottom line operating costs? With 179 still in place, you can make that happen for yourself, and keep competitive in a swiftly-changing global market.

This is good news especially for those who aim to purchase our Uzelac BMS or a Duske Dryer System as part of their 2013 resolution to expand their future business options. One example of a good investment in 2013 is the Bio-Fuel Market.  The bio-fuel market is a massive energy market that remains yet to be tapped to even half of its long-term potential. From a bird’s-eye “global” view, experts at Pike Research estimate that the potential bio-fuels market will double upwards to $185.3 billion by 2021. As countries across the world adopt ever-more stringent environmental and energy-saving standards for their industrial bases, bio-fuels are set to rank right up there with oil, gas, nuclear, hydro, solar, and wind as a means of powering national infrastructure. In short, it’s low-hanging, cost-effective fruit that’s ripe for the picking (and/or recycling).

Simply put, our Duske Dryer systems are some of the most advanced in the world. True, they cost their fair share of money. But with Section 179 still in place, you won’t see your purchasing costs soar in time with your entrepreneurial spirit. Our dryer systems become affordable to almost anyone wishing to get into the bio-fuels business. So if you’re looking to leap boldly into 2013, Duske’s the way to move forward. For more information on Uzelac Industries, Inc. and how you can save huge sums of savings on our Duske Dryer Systems, contact us today by phone or by email.

Uzelac Industries and Your Carbon Footprint

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You hear a lot about how we all need to reduce our “carbon footprints”. Merriam Webster (yep, hard to believe but it is in the dictionary now) defines a carbon footprint as: “the amount of greenhouse gases and specifically carbon dioxide emitted by something (as in a person’s activities or a product’s manufacture and transport) during a given period.”

It comes down to this: almost everything we do every day has a direct effect on the environment. Cars, computers, refrigerators, and even the type of food we eat contribute to our carbon footprint.  There are simple things you can do to begin to lessen your impact on the planet. Stuff like taking showers over bathes, unplugging your phone charger, buying local foods that don’t need to be trucked in from far away, carpool, and of course plant a tree. There are also some that aren’t so obvious, like using white trash bags over black and shifting into higher gear in your car as soon as possible. However you choose to do it, the little things can add up.  The EPA even offers a Household Carbon Footprint Calculator that allows you to get a rough estimate of your family’s footprint.

At Uzelac Industries, we are trying to do more than just help a little, we are trying to help people and companies make big changes.  Our unique Biosolids Management Solution (BMS) is an eco-friendly process that creates clean and green energy while reducing carbon footprints. With an unobtrusive presence on a given jobsite, the BMS is the perfect replacement to the incinerators of yesteryear. Not only does it cost 75% less than a standard Biosolids incinerator, but it reduces the cost of landfill maintenance by over 90% – by sheer volume reduction of Landfill waste.   Customers can expect an overall ROI on their Biosolid Management Solutions systems of less than two years!

It just goes to show: we are driven not only to be a successful and profitable company, but also a company that reduces the carbon footprint of everyone we work with.

Check out our Bio-Solids Management Solution (BMS) Video.

 

Biomass is the Future

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One of the hottest trends in the energy today is the bourgeoning biomass industry.  In a nutshell, biomass is biological material from living or recently living organisms. People utilize it for a number of different things, but of late, biomass has become a very popular renewable energy source. In all fairness, it’s not exactly a new energy source (wood counts as biomass, so it’s been around since humans discovered fire) but scientists have recently found new and paradigm-shifting ways to convert plants such as switchgrass and sugarcane, waste products like landfill gas, and municipal solid waste of all types into clean and efficient fuels. In fact, just recently the White House announced up to $35 million in new funding over three years to support research and development in advanced biofuels, bioenergy, and high-value biobased products.

Uzelac’s Duske Drying Systems and our innovative Bio-Solids Management Solution (BMS) are both driven by years of experience in creating custom drying systems that convert biomass and bio-solids into profitable by-products.  Our engineers have put together countless drying systems that are amazingly cost-effective and eco-friendly.  Major biomass companies like Zilkha Biomass Energy, Alternative Energy Solutions International , and N-Viro have relied on Duske Drying Systems to become leaders in their fields.

Our Bio-Solids Management Solution is a groundbreaking system that brings with it a more effective alternative to land application, land filling, and incineration. It offers companies a truly green process, a program which virtually eliminates fuel costs and is beneficial for bottom line and carbon footprint alike.

Everyone at Uzelac Industries is excited about our role in the biomass industry, since we believe that someday soon, sooner than some might expect, biomass will play a much greater part in satisfying the world’s overwhelming energy needs.

Keep checking our blog for more stories about our work at the forefront of the bourgeoning biomass and bio-solids revolution.

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