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Austria Tabak - GRANDER-style revitalized air conditioning

Approximately 13 billion cigars are made each year at the plant in Hainburg, Lower Austria.  The Austria Tabak company was founded in 1784 by Emperor Josef II as a state-owned enterprise.  In 1997 it underwent partial privatisation on the Viennese stock market and mid 2001 it was sold to the Gallaher Group PLC.  Since 2007 Austria Tabak has been a part of the JTI Group (Japan) and is now part of the third largest tobacco enterprise worldwide.

The first installation of GRANDER water revitalisation took place in 2000.  For test purposes a device was installed for the air conditioner in the Fuerstenfeld plant to keep a contant room temperature of 22 degrees and 60% relative humidity.  The air conditioners renew and clean the air, control the temperature and condition the humidity.  The air is cleaned and humidified with the help of vaporized water, whereby water mist is created.  In order to avoid algae growth and dirt build-up in the air conditioners, chemicals are added to the water.

After the installation of GRANDER water revitalisation, the company could significantly reduce the amount of chemicals added and the cleaning internals became much longer.  Due to excellent test results the implementation of GRANDER water revitalisation was expanded.  In the meantime, seven of these units provide clean air and turn over 450,000 m3 per hour in the production hall in Hainburg.

"In 2003 we invested around 100,000 Euros in chemicals for the air conditioners; after installing GRANDER water revitalisation we save 40% every year," Martin Haberfeiner, qualified engineer who is responsible for Austria Tabak's energy questions, commented.

After the successful experience in Hainburg, even the administative office in Vienna has been equipped with GRANDER water revitalisation since 2005.

Apart from the air conditioning system, revitalized water has been installed for the entire drinking water supply to allow the employees the enjoyment of revitalized GRANDER water.