Our projects
Envio carries out many different restoration and disposal projects. The worldwide network of partnerships with local disposal companies ensures that we can support our customers in almost every country in the world.
From obtaining national and international licences for hazardous materials transportation of PCB-contaminated appliances via land and sea to the delivery of new appliances and the “ready-to-use” exchanges of old appliances including disposal. Envio undertakes the entire responsibility for project development – from the customer’s location to safe, environmentally friendly disposal in our modern plant in Dortmund.
Project examples
Disposal of a 200 MVA transformer, Völklingen
As part of a new delivery of transformers to the Fenne power plant in Völklingen, an old 200 MVA dome transformer AT03 110/65 kV was emptied, brought down by a transformer tank and finally transported to a prepared disassembly area within the power plant.
Specialists from Envio disassembled the emptied transformer according to all environmental safety conditions within five weeks. At the end the transformer was transported to our plant in Dortmund for further processing.
The transformer boiler, as well as oily left-over materials such as paper, cardboard and wood, were brought to an on-site disposal plant.
Development of a management system in Macedonia
Together with the German Association for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Development (BMZ) Envio has developed a management system for Macedonia. This system serves to identify and monitor transformers and condensers in the Balkan country that are contaminated with PCBs and helps to dispose of them in an environmentally friendly manner. Above all it should provide all public agencies with a basis for decision making for improved disposal of PCB-contaminated transformers in the country. In addition to this, the management system conveys reliable, on-site data regarding the number and size of transformers. A sensitisation with regard to the dangers present when dealing with and storing PCBs is to be achieved.
Disposal of 500 tons of PCB-contaminated transformers in Kazakhstan
The Kazakhstan Environment Ministry commissioned Envio to dispose of and recycle PCB-contaminated transformers and condensers.
This was a large contract with a total volume of around 500 tons of contaminated appliances. The entire disposal needs of the central Asian country are approximately 130,000 tons. Kazakhstan is, as are many countries, bound to the Stockholm Convention to dispose of all PCB-contaminated electrical appliances in an environmentally safe manner by 2025.
Disposal of a PCB filled hydraulic system from the Staatstheater Oldenburg
At the Staatstheater Oldenburg a specialist team from Envio dismantled a PCB filled hydraulic cylinder under the stage. The removal of the hydraulic cylinder was the first step in an extensive renovation process that Envio carried out for the Oldenburg City Council. All PCB-contaminated appliances were removed and disposed of professionally. As rehearsals had to continue throughout the duration of the project, careful planning and collaboration with the cast was necessary.
PCB restoration, Zastava car factory, Serbia
Envio was commissioned by the United Nations (UNOPS) to eliminate the environmental damage that had occurred as a result of two PCB transformers being destroyed during the 1999 Kosovo war. In the Zastava car factory in Kragujevac, approx. 150 km south-east of Belgrad, two PCB transformers in the factory’s paint shop were destroyed during an air raid. Their contents, an insulating oil containing a large amount of PCBs, escaped and spread over the hall floor collecting in the sediment pool of the paint shop. A 200m2 area of the concrete floor of the hall was then contaminated with PCBs as was approx. 175 tons of paint sludge in the pool. Envio’s task was to remove and dispose of all PCB-contaminated materials and rebuild the hall floor.
Exchange of 34 PCB transformers and the restoration of transformer cells at the University of Marburg
When the University of Marburg announced the exchange of 34 PCB-contaminated transformers and the restoration of the contaminated transformer cells, Envio had a serious competitive advantage: in addition to our many years of experience in connection with PCB-contaminated appliances, our complete problem solution was the deciding factor for the customer. The university was impressed that one company was able to carry out disposal, restoration and delivery of new appliances as well as take back the old transformers, all from one single source.