Schlagmann Poroton converts production plant to climate-friendly operation

According to an announcement by the Competence Centre for Climate Protection in Energy-Intensive Industries in March 2025, the Bavarian brick manufacturer Schlagmann Poroton is converting its existing production plant at its main site Zeilarn in Bavaria to be climate-friendly.

In order to partially electrify the production processes and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Schlagmann Poroton is now optimising its kiln system in Plant 1 at its main site in Zeilarn, Bavaria. The company will receive funding from the Decarbonisation in Industry funding programme. The project DECARBZEW1 - Decarbonisation Plant 1 - Zeilarn runs from 01.04.2024 until 01.02.2028.

Optimising production with renewable energy generation

The combustion chamber of the tunnel kiln is reduced in size for holistic process optimisation, which reduces the amount of smoke and waste gas produced. The principle of waste heat recovery using a high-temperature heat pump in the tunnel dryer ensures an effective increase in efficiency. With the installation of photovoltaic systems on all roofs, Schlagmann is creating a comprehensive infrastructure for decentralised energy generation. By using renewable energy sources for plant operation in particular, to 40 percent of the emissions generated in brick production can be saved.

Outlook: New technology at all company sites

The conversion concept is unique in Germany. The Institut für Energietechnik IfE GmbH at the Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Amberg-Weiden gives scientific support. The decarbonised plant is to be operated with the same annual production volume of almost 115,000 tonnes of ready-fired bricks. In the long term, the technology will help all six of the company‘s brick plants to be completely greenhouse gas-neutral by 2045. It can also be transferred to many other brickworks in Germany.