At AEB Amsterdam, the city’s main waste-to-energy facility, an unexpected problem was causing serious operational risks: ‘laughing gas’ canisters, often hidden in household waste, were exploding inside the incinerator. The result? Severe damage to the ovens, unplanned shutdowns, and high repair costs.
To mitigate the risk, AEB decided to pre-shred all incoming waste before incineration. For this temporary shredder installation, they turned to Spantech. In just four weeks, we designed, built, and installed a fully demountable structure measuring 35 by 80 metres, with 10-metre high steel columns – right next to their existing facilities in Amsterdam North.
The hall includes:
• 12 automatic roller shutters (5x5m) for seamless waste flow in and out.
• 4 pedestrian doors serving as safe emergency exits.
• Complete electrical installation, including lighting, carried out in-house by Spantech.
Thanks to our modular building method, we were able to deliver maximum flexibility and an extremely fast turnaround – while meeting all regulatory requirements for the shredder installation’s roofing.
The new hall provides AEB with an immediate, practical solution to a complex safety issue. By shredding the waste before incineration, the risk of explosions in the ovens is drastically reduced. Spantech’s rapid response ensures business continuity for AEB while significantly improving safety for people and infrastructure.
