H. Butting GmbH & Co. KG

Knesebeck, Germany

In August 2018, the tube pickling plant, one of the most important production areas for stainless steel tube production at BUTTING in Knesebeck, burned down.
Just a few days after the fire disaster, planning began for the construction of a new pickling plant, requiring many decisions to be made - from the selection of the pickling process, the choice of the location relating to the structural aspects the building and, of course, the selection of suppliers for the new encapsulated tube pickling line.
KVK-Koerner's know-how and experience in this area and their excellent references from previous projects, such as Tubacex and Voest Alpine Aerospace, enabled BUTTING to make this decision quickly. Just as important was the fact that KVK-Koerner tanks are fire-retardant, according to class B1, unlike pickling tanks made of PP and PE.

BUTTING was able to commission their new tube pickling line, despite the Covid crisis, at the end of November 2020, just two years after the fire, and are now again supplying their customers with their proven quality and performance.

Design highlights of the new facility:

• Encapsulated tube pickling line with exhaust air scrubber to meet emission requirements
• Heated and cooled pickling baths for improved process control
• Automated crane system with a load capacity of over 20 tons for enhanced productivity
• Partially automated and fully monitored acid piping reticulation system
• Complete wastewater neutralization system
• Partly automated washing area

Thomas Schüller, Managing Director at BUTTING in Knesebeck and head of the "Neue Beize" project, is very satisfied.
He reported "A large team of experts with employees from the BUTTING specialist departments for strip tube production, surface supply and production technology, together with the specialists from Kvk-Koerner was involved in the planning and implementation. We have worked hard and intensively on this project over the past two years. Based on decades of experience, e.g. in relation to pickling chemistry, neutralization and environmental management, all those involved have brought their innovative strength and problem-solving skills into the decision-making process. The result is effective and innovative - and therefore crucial for a successful future. "