Overview of all GROSS briquette presses

In the briquetting process, loose waste materials are compressed under high pressure to form compact briquettes. GROSS briquetting presses, for example, process homogeneous wood shavings, sawdust, wood chips and wood dust without the need for any additional binding agent. This reduces the volume of the material, whilst making storage, transport and further use easier to plan.

Briquetting can turn loose wood scraps into an energy source that is suitable for storage and transport. Businesses benefit in particular from:

• reduced volume for storage and transport,
• more efficient management of wood waste,
• the potential to use the material for in-house heat generation,
• lower disposal costs,
• additional sales opportunities for suitable wood briquettes.

Which solution is economically viable depends on the quantity and quality of the material, machine utilisation, energy requirements and sales channels.

Typical raw materials include sawdust, wood shavings, wood chips and certain types of wood dust. Depending on the type of press, paper, cardboard, polystyrene or other homogeneous materials can also be compressed.

Important: Not every briquette that can be produced technically is a fuel. Paper, plastic or metal briquettes are primarily used for volume reduction, storage, recovery or disposal. Whether wood briquettes may be burnt depends on the raw material, fuel quality, the combustion plant and the applicable regulations.

Yes, briquettes made from suitable, untreated wood can be used to provide heating for your own business. Possible applications include:

• heating workshops, production areas, offices or warehouses,
• central building heating,
• hot water production,
• provision of process heat, for example for drying processes,
• feeding the generated heat into a company heating network.

It is always a prerequisite that the combustion plant is approved for wood briquettes and the specific fuel quality in question. Plant manufacturers and chimney sweeps should be consulted before making the switch.

Only if the manufacturer has expressly approved the stove for use with wood briquettes. Information on this can be found in the user manual and in the fuel approval certificate for the fireplace.

High-quality briquettes made from natural wood are intended for standard small-scale combustion systems. The Federal Environment Agency recommends Class A1 wood briquettes in accordance with DIN EN ISO 17225-3, or equivalently certified products, for such applications. Briquettes may expand during combustion. It is therefore essential to adhere to the quantity specifications provided by the stove manufacturer.

This is possible if the boiler is designed and approved for wood briquettes. Depending on the system, the briquettes are fed into the boiler either manually or via a specially designed feed system. Key factors include the briquette size, fuel quality, output range, heat storage and permitted emission levels.

The boiler manufacturer or a specialist heating engineer must assess whether an existing system can be converted.

Such briquettes must not be treated in the same way as briquettes made from untreated wood. Due to the use of adhesives, coatings or other substances, significantly stricter requirements apply to their combustion.

In Germany, certain residues from glued or coated wood may only be used in suitable combustion plants with a capacity of 30 kW or more and only in timber-processing or wood-working establishments. Wood treated with wood preservatives, as well as unsuitable or unknown mixtures of materials, is not permitted as a standard fuel.

Briquetting does not alter the legal classification of the raw material. Pressing a problematic wood residue does not turn it into a freely usable fuel.

Wood briquettes should be stored in a dry place, protected from the rain, and, where possible, without coming into direct contact with the floor or damp walls. Moisture can cause briquettes to swell, crumble and reduce their fuel quality.

To ensure reliable operation, it is also advisable to keep transport distances between the press, the storage area and the heating system as short as possible. For larger quantities, fire safety, dust control and local storage regulations must be taken into account.

In principle, yes, provided that the raw materials, product quality, labelling and marketing comply with the applicable requirements. Briquettes produced to a consistent standard from verifiably natural wood are particularly suitable for sale as fuel.

Before entering the market, the quality should be assessed by a suitable testing laboratory. Relevant criteria include:

• the origin and composition of the wood,
• moisture and ash content,
• calorific value,
• particle density and mechanical strength,
• dimensions and shape,
• possible levels of contaminants,
• consistent quality across multiple production batches.

DIN EN ISO 17225-3 sets out quality classes and specifications for classified wood briquettes. Independent certification such as DINplus can facilitate access to the end-customer and retail markets, but involves costs associated with testing, documentation and monitoring.

Depending on the production volume, quality and packaging, various sales channels may be considered:

• Direct sales to private customers in the region,
• Sales to staff and existing business customers,
• Supply to neighbouring commercial or craft businesses,
• partnerships with fuel and firewood suppliers,
• Supplying regional building, agricultural or specialist retailers,
• Sales by the pallet to commercial customers,
• Sales via our own online shop or regional platforms,
• Contract manufacturing for a retailer or a third-party brand.

For smaller quantities, direct regional sales are often the easiest way to get started. Larger retail channels generally expect documented quality, consistent delivery capability, professional packaging and reliable batches.

This can only be answered by carrying out a site-specific calculation.

Where the product is used in-house, the main benefits arise from avoided disposal costs and the replacement of purchased thermal energy. Where the product is sold, potential revenue must be weighed against the costs of pressing, electricity, wear and tear, staff, quality control, packaging, storage and transport.

A robust profitability analysis therefore takes into account:

1. the available quantity and quality of wood waste,
2. actual annual operating hours,
3. investment and operating costs of the briquetting press,
4. existing operational heat requirements,
5. the cost of the energy source used to date,
6. achievable net selling price,
7. packaging, distribution and logistics costs,
8. seasonal demand and required storage capacity.

Yes. A combination of using heat for own consumption and selling it can balance out fluctuations in heat demand and the supply of waste wood. In winter, for example, the briquettes are mainly used for heating the premises, whilst any surplus is stored or sold outside the heating season.

To achieve this, production volumes, dry storage capacity, fuel quality and sales planning must all be coordinated.