Bad odours from wastewater treatment plants, biogas plants and other process facilities can be a challenge both for neighbours and for the people working there. That is why good filter solutions are needed – along with robust constructions that can withstand harsh environments. Bluegreen builds them in PE.
In collaboration with Recul in Skien, Bluegreen delivers custom-designed filter housings to facilities all over Norway. Recul provides the purification technology, while Bluegreen builds the construction around it – adapted to the customer’s requirements, dimensions and needs.
“We often say filter, but to be completely precise, we build the filter housings. Recul comes to us with the specification, dimensions and requirements, and then we design and produce the solution in PE. Once Recul installs the purification technology, it becomes a complete filter,” says Robin Kvilaas, Head of the Plastics Workshop at Bluegreen.
The odour filters are often used in demanding environments with moisture, acidic air and corrosive gases. Where steel can quickly corrode, PE is a highly suitable material. It withstands harsh environments, has a long service life and is well suited for custom-designed constructions.
“This is actually a good example of what our plastics workshop does best. The customer has a specific need, often with unusual dimensions or demanding operating conditions. We find a practical solution, build it in the workshop and deliver as agreed,” says Kvilaas.
Air purification has become an important segment for Bluegreen, and we have had the pleasure of working with Recul since the company was established five years ago.
“Odour reduction is about much more than installing a filter. It is about understanding air volumes, odour load, operating conditions and the surroundings of the facility. When we deliver good solutions to our customers, we need suppliers who understand the requirements and build solid constructions that fit the project,” says Siv Malmanger, General Manager of Recul.
She describes the collaboration with Bluegreen as both practical and solution-oriented.
“ We really value our collaboration with Bluegreen. They are good at finding solutions, they know PE, and they deliver filter housings tailored to the needs of each individual project. For us, it is important to have a partner who understands both the craftsmanship and the requirements out at the customer’s site. Siv Malmanger, general manager Recul
Right now, Bluegreen is building a filter housing for one of Recul’s biogas customers in Western Norway. The facility will produce biogas and biofertiliser from raw materials from agriculture and the marine industry, and the owner places great emphasis on minimising both odour and noise from the plant.
The filter housing is a full 17 metres long and 2 metres high. Once it is completed, Recul will install the purification technology that will clean the air before it is released.
The size also brings a few practical challenges. The filter housing is so large that it must be transported by special transport – and driven around the mountain, because it is too big for the roads across Hardangervidda.
“This is a seriously sized delivery. It is not exactly something you put on an ordinary truck and drive across the mountain. But that is also part of what makes this job fun. We like big constructions, we like special solutions, and we like it when things are happening,” says Kvilaas.
The delivery to Recul is far from the only thing happening in the plastics workshop this summer. The workshop is running at full speed these days, and Bluegreen has several major deliveries scheduled for August. In other words, this will not be a summer in low gear.
“There is a high level of activity, and we see that as a good sign. We have skilled people, plenty to do and many exciting deliveries ahead of us. Now it is about keeping up the momentum, working smart and making sure our customers get what they are supposed to get,” says Kvilaas.
For Bluegreen, this is a good example of what the company aims to be: a practical and reliable partner that builds durable PE solutions – adapted to real-world needs.
And sometimes that means building a 17-metre-long construction that contributes to something very down-to-earth: better air and less odour for the people who live and work nearby.
