Hargassner Ecolabel company State prize winner

Because biomass heating systems make a significant contribution to climate neutrality in the heating sector. Read more about this exciting project here!

Since 1984. The Neo-State Prize winner, i.e. Hargassner GesmbH in Weng im Innkreis, Upper Austria, was founded and built up by Anton Sr. and Elisabeth Hargassner in 1984. Since 2020, the two sons Anton jun. and Markus Hargassner have successfully managed the company. Weng im Innkreis is still the headquarters and main production site of the Austrian family business, which is involved in the manufacture of biomass heating systems.

Strongly on the upswing. "Currently, the company employs 740 people. This number has more than doubled in the last two years. Around 600 people work at the main site in Weng. Production, research and development, customer service and administration are located there. In Lenzing there is also the branch for our industrial heaters of the 'Magno' series up to 2.5 mW with 50 employees. In Poland we currently have two sites with a total of 140 employees," reports Markus Hargassner. Exports are handled by subsidiaries and general agencies throughout Europe and worldwide.

"Burning" for the future. In keeping with the company motto "Heating technology of the future", the Hargassner family has been very committed to the topics of "sustainability" and "climate protection" for decades. The necessary developments are innovative and state of the art. For two decades now, the focus has been on the optimisation, production and distribution of pellet, log and wood chip systems. These biomass heating systems represent an important contribution to climate neutrality in the household and commercial heating sector.

State seal of approval. In 2011, the company was therefore already awarded the Austrian Ecolabel for all its products after rigorous testing. "The list of products awarded the eco-label is naturally supplemented or extended every year with the new products," Anton Hargassner tells us.

The State Prize²⁰²¹. And the success story continues: On 20 October 2021, Anton jun. and Markus Hargassner received the State Prize²⁰²¹ Environment and Energy Technology in the category "Environment & Climate" from the hands of Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler. More than 100 Austrian companies and organisations had applied for the State Prize²⁰²¹ for Environmental and Energy Technology. It was therefore exciting for the Hargassner company until the very end to see whether they could convince the jury with their submitted project "Emission reduction in modern biomass heating systems". The joy in the company was enormous when it was announced that Hargassner Ges mbH was able to prevail over the competitors in the category "Environment & Climate".

Emission reduction successful! Markus Hargassner on the project "Emission reduction in modern biomass heating systems", which earned the company the State Prize²⁰²¹: "Ever since the company was founded, it has always been important to Anton Sr. Hargassner to optimise and further develop heating technology. To do this, it was also essential to reduce emissions. Therefore, together with the Graz University of Technology, we have jointly implemented the development project 'Emission Reduction in Modern Biomass Heating Systems' for the complete product range consisting of wood chip and pellet systems in the power range from 9 to 330 kW. For the wood chip and pellet heating systems, the combustion chamber shape, the ember bed height and the air flow were optimised."

Efficiency increased! "A stainless steel condensing heat exchanger was installed downstream of the heat exchanger in the pellets area and an electrostatic filter in the wood chips area. On the one hand, these measures increase the efficiency by 5 to 10 % and thus the efficiency of the plant; on the other hand, fine dust particles are reduced to a minimum. More than 90 % of the development steps have already been implemented in the units and successfully sold on the market."

Keeping an eye on climate targets. Markus Hargassner points out: "More than 80 % of European countries will switch from fossil heating systems to renewable heating systems in the next few years. Thanks to the optimisations I have described, our biomass heating systems are not only CO2-neutral, but also have extremely low emissions, which are enormously important for the implementation of the climate goals. So far, about 15,000 biomass heaters have been sold per year, and the number of units per year could double several times in the next few years."

Keeping an eye on the climate targets. Markus Hargassner points out: "Over 80 % of European countries will switch from fossil heating to renewable heating systems in the next few years. Thanks to the optimisations I have described, our biomass heating systems are not only CO2-neutral, but also have extremely low emissions, which are enormously important for the implementation of the climate goals. So far, about 15,000 biomass heaters have been sold per year, and the number of units per year could double several times in the next few years."

Jobs secured! "This will secure existing jobs and also create more than 200 new green jobs. All in all, this will strengthen Austria's leading position in the field of renewable energy technology. Anton Hargassner adds: "The special challenge was that we wanted to achieve the improvements not only for one product, but for our entire product range."

Excellent technology through intensive research work. The Staatspreis²⁰²¹ was awarded for the complete product range in pellet, wood chip and logwood heating systems in the output range from 9 to 330 kW. What does this "product range" mean to the interested customer? Anton Hofer's answer: "Each of our biomass heating systems up to 330 kW works with the state-awarded technology. There is a lot of research work behind it. Regardless of whether it is for a single-family house, business, catering, agriculture or industry, the customer can always be sure that he has bought a product with the most modern combustion technology and the lowest possible emissions. Furthermore, it should be remembered that the fuel wood, with which our products generate heat, is sustainable and naturally CO2-neutral."

Austrian excellence. We warmly congratulate Hargassner Ges mbH on winning the State Prize²⁰²¹. Their commitment to climate protection is important and convincing - also in combination with the products bearing the Austrian Ecolabel!