A comfortable indoor climate all year round. To achieve this, MAGNUM Heating develops innovative underfloor heating products. The company has been working with Royal Hordijk for years. Hordijk will soon be using an innovative machine for this purpose: the Wavefoamer.
Hordijk produces insulation panels for MAGNUM Heating. Alex van Haaren, CEO of MAGNUM Heating, says: “They have a certain shape. Underfloor heating pipes and cables are inserted into these panels. We apply a layer of aluminium to this so that the heat is better distributed. A big advantage of these panels is that they can be laid on any subfloor. Even under a rough floor. It is an ideal system for the renovation market.
“In essence, our product already contributes to ‘green thinking’ and fits seamlessly into the energy transition. We see gas installations slowly being phased out. More and more homes are going all-electric or getting a heat pump, for example. Underfloor heating is an ideal way to distribute this heat efficiently.
New sustainable technique to produce EPS insulation boards
With the energy issue in mind, MAGNUM Heating and Hordijk were looking for a new way to produce EPS. One that was more sustainable and efficient than the current production method. So that MAGNUM Heating and Hordijk could have a more positive impact on the energy performance of the product. Alex: “We want to make our products as green as possible. Our current machines require steam for the production process. The Wavefoamer, on the other hand, uses microwaves to melt the EPS together. As a result, we can completely electrify the production process and eliminate the need for gas. This will significantly reduce our CO2 emissions.
50 % recycled EPS
What makes the production process even more sustainable is that up to 50 per cent of the material can now be recycled. Alex: “This is possible because we use high-frequency radio waves. This heats the plastic moulds from the inside so that the EPS melts well in the core. Because we can use 50 per cent recycled material, we create a closed loop”.
The fact that the Wavefoamer uses 50 per cent recyclable material not only benefits the sustainability of the product. It also gives a huge boost to cost efficiency. Says Alex: “Of course, there is an increase in start-up costs and significant investment is required to produce the moulds differently. Ultimately, this results in lower raw material costs. For example, test units of the Wavefoamer are currently being built in Delft to test the production process before we really start using the machine.
Improved pressure resistance
The new production method also improves the quality of the insulation boards. Alex: “The technical advantage of Wavefoamer is that it improves the compressive strength of our product. The compressive strength of our product has to be high enough for customers to be able to put heavy cabinets on it, for example. We also don’t want the boards to be damaged or deformed. Thanks to the Wavefoamer, we can achieve this more easily and use less new raw materials.
EPS production with electricity: unique in the Netherlands, sustainable and much more efficient
MAGNUM Heating and Hordijk are the first in the Netherlands to work with the Wavefoamer. Alex says: “This makes us proud, of course. It also contributes enormously to our green image and that of Hordijk. I hope that together we can set an example that will also optimise other production processes. I am looking forward to using the Wavefoamer products. Produced in a unique, more sustainable and much more efficient way”.
This collaboration is a welcome addition to MAGNUM Heating’s product range. Alex: “We strive to create win-win situations where we can offer green and innovative products that meet the needs of our customers. Through collaborations such as the one with Hordijk, we can promote our own products. For example, with Hordijk we have the MAGNUM HeatBoard W, which allows us to perfectly match our products with the increasing demand for energy conversion. And we offer easy installation and good heat output.
Leading in energy savings and recyclability
The collaboration between Hordijk and Magnum Heating is producing positive results for both parties. Alex: “Thanks to the Wavefoamer, we are at the forefront of our industry in terms of energy savings and recyclability. This will become extremely important in our industry in the coming years. This gives us and Hordijk the opportunity to pursue our commercial interests while meeting the needs of our customers.