Krems an der Donau, September 12, 2024 – Metadynea Austria is setting the course for the future. The company will now operate under the name KremsChem Austria. “For 75 years, our spirit of innovation and our connection to the region have shaped the company. With KremsChem, we are returning to our roots as Krems Chemie and evolving the name into a new, modern, and international version,” explains Michael Kunz, CEO of KremsChem Austria GmbH. “With the new logo, we are visibly setting the course for the future, and with the opening of our power plant, we demonstrate our responsible and sustainable path: Using a combined heat and power plant, we utilize residual gas generated during production to meet our energy needs. KremsChem is energy-autonomous,” Kunz emphasizes.
"I am convinced that this brand, this location, and this company hold significant potential for employees, the city of Krems, and the state of Lower Austria as a workplace and industrial site," said Johanna Mikl-Leitner, Governor of Lower Austria, during the opening ceremony. She further explained: "This new power plant represents innovation and sustainability. It is a best-practice example of circular economy and aligns with our goal of making Lower Austria the center for circular economy in Austria." Mikl-Leitner emphasized that the company is "a leading edge" when it comes to innovation. "This project is a model example of research and development in Lower Austria. We know that the major issues of the present and future can only be addressed through research, progress, innovation, and development," she added in her speech.
Commitment to Sustainability
"We are committed to the Krems location, we emphasize our independence, and we want to continue developing the company together," said Ralph Theuer, CEO of KremsChem Holding GmbH and owner representative. "We are 75 years old and young in our thinking. The power plant symbolizes our commitment to sustainability," Theuer emphasized. The power plant is unique in its kind: The hydrogen-rich residual gas produced in the production process generates energy through combined heat and power. "We invested 10.85 million euros in the project. About 30 regional companies were involved, and the project started in February 2022 and was completed in August 2024," Kunz explained.
High Efficiency and New Opportunities
The implementation partner was the INNIO Group. "Our Jenbacher special gas engines are flexible in fuel choice. They enable our customers to produce high-quality electricity and heat on-site. For this project, the engines generate CO2-free electricity. This helps our customers achieve their sustainability goals and ensures supply security," said Martin Widner, Vice President of Global Sales for the Jenbacher brand at INNIO Group.
1,400 HP and 50,000 RPM
The power plant consists of four gas engines. Each engine delivers a mechanical power of up to 1,400 HP, which translates to 1,000 kilowatts of electricity per engine for use at the plant. These are 20-cylinder, 4-stroke engines with over 60 liters of displacement. The turbocharger operates at up to 50,000 RPM and delivers boost pressures comparable to Formula 1. A multitude of sensors and measurement systems are integrated into the engine to ensure stable and efficient operation.
Logo Connects Industry with Region
The new brand was developed by the renowned Austrian advertising agency Gabler, Werbung, Film. "The logo combines the chemical industry with the region through the hexagon of the chemical structure formula. The waves inside represent the hills of the Wachau and the waves of the Danube. The logo color, an exceptional green, signifies our commitment to sustainability," explained Michael Kunz. The tagline "Innovative Solutions" describes the activities of KremsChem.