Alfa Laval delivers process solution to one of Europe’s largest ethanol plants

Alfa Laval – a world leader in heat transfer, centrifugal separation and fluid handling – has received an order of a process line to the new bioethanol plant Biowanze in Belgium. The plant is one of the largest outside of the USA and an important step in order to reach the EU directive stating that 5.75 % of all vehicle fuel should come from renewable sources by 2011. The combined order value is about SEK 50 million. Delivery is scheduled for 2008.

The new plant in Belgium is operated by the Tiense Suikerraffinaderij Groep, Crop Energy, which is owned by Südzucker. It has a total production capacity of about 300 000 m3 per year which is enough to power more than 250 000* cars. There are ongoing plans to establish another two ethanol plants in Belgium.

“I am proud that Alfa Laval can contribute to lowering the carbon dioxide emissions in Europe. At the same time I see the order as further evidense of our strong and leading position within the renewable vehicle fuels," says Lars Renström, President and CEO of Alfa Laval.

The raw materials used in the plant consist of wheat and sugar beet juice. Alfa Laval is involved in the wheat processing in which gluten and starch are separated. The gluten is a highly valuable by-product that is sold separately. The starch is used in the ethanol process. Alfa Laval’s process solution includes design and key equipment including plate heat exchangers, decanter centrifuges, pumps and auxiliary equipment.


* = Based on a combined fuel consumption of 0.7 liter E85 biofuel per 10 km and an annual driving distance of 20 000 km (1400 liters per year).



About Alfa Laval
Alfa Laval is a leading global provider of specialized products and engineering solutions based on its key technologies of heat transfer, separation and fluid handling.
The company’s equipment, systems and services are dedicated to assisting customers in optimizing the performance of their processes. The solutions help them to heat, cool, separate and transport products in industries that produce food and beverages, chemicals and petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, starch, sugar and ethanol.
Alfa Laval’s products are also used in power plants, aboard ships, in the mechanical engineering industry, in the mining industry and for wastewater treatment, as well as for comfort climate and refrigeration applications.
Alfa Laval’s worldwide organization works closely with customers in nearly 100 countries to help them stay ahead in the global arena.

Alfa Laval is listed on the Nordic Exchange, Nordic Large Cap, and, in 2006, posted annual sales of about SEK 20 billion (approx. 2,2 billion euros). The company has some 10,000 employees.
www.alfalaval.com



For more information please contact:
Peter Torstensson
Vice President, Communications
Alfa Laval
Tel: + 46 46 36 72 31
Mobile: +46 709 33 72 31

Mikael Sjöblom
Investor Relations
Alfa Laval
Tel: +46 46 36 74 82
Mobile: +46 709 78 74 82