Hot briquetting

We love it hot—
up to 750°C.

Hot briquetting

Hot Briquetting –
how it works

Köppern is a pioneer in hot briquetting: as early as the 1970s , the technology has established itself as the world's leading solution for briquetting high-temperature materials such as sponge iron. Our roller presses shape material at temperatures of up to 750°C into stable briquettes – for efficient further processing or return to the material cycle. The specially designed machine technology combines high-temperature-resistant steels, cooling of the stressed components, inertization of the press, and extremely temperature- and wear-resistant tools – for maximum performance under extreme conditions.

feedstock

Hot, directly reduced iron, known as sponge iron, is added at temperatures of up to 750°C. Sponge iron contains around 85% metallic iron. This makes the material plastically deformable and allows it to be forged into briquettes.

① Press and separator

The feed material is fed into the press rollers in a controlled manner by the feed screw. As it passes through the rollers, the material is forged into a continuous briquette strand. This is then broken up into individual briquettes in the separator.

② Sieve

In the optional hot material return system, the undersize material from the press discharge is separated from the product while still hot by means of screening and fed back to the roller press.

undersize

The undersize particles separated in the hot screen are fed back into the press.

Product cooling

Cooling the product to approx. 100 °C

camp

feedstock 1 2 Undersize Product cooling Storage

Unique HBI/DRI process

Hot briquetting is the only fully recognized and reliable technology for converting pyrophoric DRI into a safer form, hot briquetted iron (HBI). After reduction at around 700 °C, the DRI is converted into HBI under high pressure in a hot briquetting machine. The result is a continuous briquette strand, which is cut into individual briquettes while still hot. These can then be cooled either with air or water.

Your advantages

Technology leader in hot briquetting for over 50 years

Our status as a technology leader is based on continuous innovation, in-depth process expertise, and globally proven plant technology. decades of experience , we offer sophisticated solutions with maximum energy efficiency, long machine life, and reliable product quality. This technological leadership gives our customers clear competitive advantages in terms of process reliability and cost-effectiveness.

Processing of feedstock materials at up to 750°C

The ability to process feed materials at high temperatures makes it possible to efficiently briquette particularly hot and reactive materials directly from upstream processes, e.g., direct reduction. This minimizes energy losses, as no additional cooling and reheating is required, thereby increasing the overall efficiency of the production chain. At the same time, the high process temperature results in a particularly dense and stable briquette structure.

Roller presses with capacities exceeding 100 t/h

Our roller presses have been specially developed for high-performance industrial applications in hot briquetting. Their high throughput capacity enables particularly efficient processing of large quantities of material, thereby reducing production times and operating costs. Thanks to their robust construction and precise system technology , the presses also guarantee consistently high briquette quality in continuous operation.

Continuous development for maximum efficiency

Through the continuous development of our roller presses and process solutions, we ensure that our plants are always state-of-the-art and achieve maximum energy and process efficiency. Innovation-driven optimizations—for example, in materials, drives, or control systems – lead to lower operating costs and higher plant availability. Our customers thus benefit from solutions that are both economical and future-proof.

Easy maintenance and long service life

In the design of our roller presses , we place great emphasis on ease of maintenance and durability, which makes operation significantly more efficient and predictable. By using wear-resistant materials and modular assemblies, maintenance work can be carried out quickly and potential downtime is minimized. The resulting long service life reduces maintenance costs and increases the availability of the plant.

Powder metallurgical RESIDUR HT® tools with outstanding performance

This Residur HT®tools are characterized by their exceptional hardness, wear resistance, and dimensional accuracy, which results in consistently high briquette quality. Thanks to state-of-the-art material technology and precise manufacturing, they achieve a particularly long service life—even under the extreme conditions of hot briquetting. This not only reduces maintenance and spare parts costs, but also increases the process reliability and economic efficiency of the entire plant.

Heavy-duty design for long-term use

The robust design of the Köppern roller presses is specially designed for continuous operation under the highest mechanical and thermal loads. High-strength materials, reinforced components, and a solid machine construction ensure maximum stability and durability. This guarantees that the systems will deliver reliable performance for many years to come.

Tests possible on a pilot plant and semi-technical scale

We offer the opportunity to conduct trials to test and optimize processes and materials in a practical setting. As a customer, you receive reliable data for the design of your future production plant and for briquette quality under realistic conditions. This minimizes project risks and enables a customized and economical plant design.

Why Köppern?

With decades of experience, in-depth process understanding, and constant innovation, Köppern is your reliable partner for sophisticated briquetting solutions. Our technology is used worldwide and stands for maximum efficiency, plant availability, and quality. Thanks to our modular system solutions and comprehensive consulting expertise, we develop customized briquetting plants – precisely tailored to your requirements.

Learn more about our plants and machines for hot briquetting, as well as our roller presses.

You can find everything you need to know about new developments and important dates relating to Köppern here.

Contact us for your
customized solution

Would you like to learn more about our hot briquetting solutions? Our experts will be happy to advise you and work with you to develop a solution that is precisely tailored to your production requirements.

We love it hot— up to 750°C.

Hot Briquetting – how it works

Unique HBI/DRI process

Why Köppern?

Contact us for yourcustomized solution

We love it hot—
up to 750°C.

Hot Briquetting –
how it works

Contact us for your
customized solution