Challenge:
Energiepark z’Brigg AG, located in the picturesque yet logistically demanding Swiss Alps near the Italian border, required a solution to dry wet-milled wood chips from 40% to 10% moisture content. However, the remote Alpine location posed significant challenges, particularly in terms of vehicle access to the construction site. Trucks and other heavy transport vehicles could not easily reach the site.
Solution:
STELA collaborated with its Swiss sales partner, Friedli AG, to design and implement a tailored drying solution for Energiepark z’Brigg AG. The project featured:
- Dryer Type: A BTL 1/3000-9 belt dryer, chosen for its reliability and suitability for high-altitude operation.
- Energy Source: The system utilized hot water from an on-site hydroelectric power station, ensuring efficient energy use and sustainability.
- Custom Features: A specially designed roof duct for the extract air chimney was engineered to address ventilation needs under Alpine conditions.
- Innovative Assembly: To overcome transportation barriers, critical components like the extract air chimney were installed using a helicopter, ensuring safe and timely construction.
The drying system was seamlessly integrated with the plant’s energy infrastructure and optimized to meet the year-round water evaporation demands of approximately one ton per hour.
Result:
The STELA belt dryer delivered exceptional results for Energiepark z’Brigg AG, overcoming significant logistical hurdles to achieve:
- Reliable Performance: Consistently reducing wood chip moisture to target levels, supporting uninterrupted pellet production.
- Efficient Installation: Despite challenging conditions, the system was assembled and commissioned successfully, with no delays.
- Sustainable Operation: Utilizing local hydroelectric power as an energy source underscored the project’s eco-friendly design.
“Energiepark z’Brigg AG produces wood pellets in Ernen, Switzerland. Only wood from regional protected forests is used for this. What is special about the plant in Valais is that there is no heat or material storage in the entire production line. It is therefore essential that the heating, belt dryer and pelletising systems function reliably and evenly and are well coordinated. If one part of this fails or malfunctions, the entire system comes to a standstill. Our project planner (Friedli AG) recommended Stela as the supplier for the belt dryer. We have not regretted our decision: both in the project planning phase and during delivery and commissioning, Stela responded to the customer’s wishes, met deadlines and delivered flawless work. The dryer does its job reliably and we are completely satisfied with it.”
Willy Weren, Managing Director of Energiepark z’Brigg AG
Conclusion:
The Energiepark z’Brigg AG project showcases STELA’s expertise in designing and implementing drying systems that perform reliably in even the most challenging environments. By leveraging innovative assembly techniques and sustainable energy sources, STELA provided a dependable drying system that supports uninterrupted production in the Alps.

About Energiepark z’Brigg AG
Energiepark z’Brigg AG specializes in wood pellet production in Ernen, Switzerland, using only wood from regional protected forests. The plant operates without heat or material storage in its production line, requiring flawless coordination between heating, drying, and pelletizing systems. The facility is a model of sustainable and efficient wood processing in the Swiss Alps.