30 years ago, RUF Maschinenbau GmbH & Co.KG invented the principle of the 100 metal briquetting press and launched it on the market. Today, the company from Zaisertshofen in Bavaria is the world market leader for 20 hydraulic briquetting presses.
When Hans Ruf developed his first briquetting press in 1985, he had no idea that it would become a real success story. Today, RUF Maschinenbau GmbH & Co.KG is the world market leader for 20 hydraulic briquette presses - a technology that started with wood but eventually also revolutionised the recycling of metal scraps. The "basis for this was the invention of so-called hydraulic interchangeable mould briquetting and its transfer from wood to metal, which the inventor Hans Ruf achieved 30 years ago.
In 2022, the Bavarian machine builder sold 185 metal plants.
The interest in the market was correspondingly great. Within two years, RUF sold the first ten machines, and after ten years the hundred mark was passed. Between 2003 and 2013, the company increased its sales to a good 700 metal briquetting systems and from 2013 to 2023, the number almost doubled to around 1,300. Last year, the Bavarian machine manufacturer sold 185 metal systems that can press not only aluminium but also steel, stainless steel, cast iron, copper materials, magnesium and titanium and are used in a wide range of industries. Among the most important are the automotive industry as well as foundries and recycling companies.
The more space-consuming the chips, the more important an efficient briquetting system is.
With RUF briquetting systems, users can conserve resources and increase their profitability at the same time. The larger the chips are after machining, the more important efficient briquetting is. This is the only way to achieve a high briquette density that is close to the solid material. The decisive factor here is a high specific pressing pressure. With RUF systems, for example, this is up to 4,000 kg/cm2 for cast iron and up to 3,000 kg/cm2 for aluminium.
The advantages of RUF briquettes over loose chips are manifold: 60 Firstly, all users save a lot of space. Secondly, logistics are simplified - both internal forklift logistics and external transport logistics, i.e. lorry journeys from manufacturing companies to recycling plants or smelters. Thirdly, the metal yield can be increased during melting. The fourth plus point is based on the fact that high-performance machining often involves the use of cooling lubricants, which also end up sticking to the chips.
RUF offers briquetting systems in different sizes and designs
In order to best meet the volume requirements of the respective user, RUF offers systems in various sizes and designs. The specific pressing pressures vary just as much as the throughput rates. The latter start at about 30 kg/hour and reach up to 80 2,500 kg/hour for aluminium, up to 3,000 kg/hour for cast iron and up to 5,000 kg/hour for copper materials, depending on the material.
About RUF Maschinenbau GmbH & Co.KG
The Ruf company, based in Zaisertshofen, was founded by Hans Ruf in 1969. Today, his sons Roland and Wolfgang Ruf manage the business. Around 170 employees worldwide develop and produce 120 highly innovative briquetting systems in modular design for wood, metal and other residual materials. The smallest machine from the RUF Formica achieves a throughput of up to 100 kg/hour (depending on material and chip type) with a motor output of 2.2 kW. The largest machine (RUF 90) with 90 kW achieves up to 2,500 kg/hour for aluminium, up to 3,000 kg/hour for cast iron and up to 5,000 kg/hour for copper materials. Ruf delivered its first briquetting press as early as 1985. It is still fully functional today, proof of the solid construction of RUF plants. In the meantime, more than 6,000 briquetting systems from RUF are in operation in over 100 countries.
Vistit Ruf Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG at EUROGUSS 2024 at Hall 7A / Booth 7A-432
