Hug Engineering’s emission solutions help industries meet ECO standards
- Swiss Hug Engineering targets Asian expansion for exhaust purification systems
Emission reduction is a growing concern in Asia, where air pollution is a serious environmental problem affecting millions due to rapid industrialisation and economic expansion. With more than 35 years of experience as Europe’s market leader in emission control for heavy duty applications, Swiss Hug Engineering gears up its expansion towards Asia’s growing markets for exhaust purification systems as part of a major international transition.
Last year, Hug Engineering became part of Faurecia Group – a leading player in the global automotive industry with more than 100,000 employees in 330 sites across 34 countries. Leveraging Faurecia’s vast network and expertise, the company has set its sights on becoming an autonomous exhaust emissions specialist at the forefront of a global industry.
“Technology is at the root of our success,” says Stefan Fuss, CEO of Hug Engineering. “We have cutting-edge technologies dealing with big engines that greatly differs from emission control for commercial vehicles.”
“We started with Selective Catalytic NOx Reduction (SCR) technology in the 1980s for land-based power plants and Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) technology for locomotives. SCR technology reduces nitrogen oxides (NOx), while DPF technology reduces particulate matter, which pollute the air. Over the past 35 years, we transferred that technology from one application to another – from power plants and railway systems to commercial ships and yachts. Eventually, these applied technologies came together, and we now offer integrated systems with a low cost of ownership,” Fuss says.
Technology is at the root of our success. We have cutting-edge technologies dealing with big engines that greatly differs from emission control for commercial vehicles
Spending 10 per cent of its revenue on research and development (R&D), Hug Engineering develops, produces and sells high-quality emission control systems and exhaust gas purification solutions with mobile and stationary applications for high-horsepower diesel and gas-powered engines. Its best-in-class products are designed in-house using high-quality input materials, electrical and mechanical components and welded assemblies from reliable suppliers.
The company’s innovations include the trademarked clean4marine, an SCR system for marine vessel engines up to 40MW that reduces NOx by up to 95 per cent. Another is the trademarked COdiNOx, a solution for greenhouses using the purified exhaust gases from gas-powered engines to boost plant growth by up to 40 per cent.
The trademarked mobiclean filter systems for commercial and off-road vehicles, rail applications, ships and yachts are based on a ceramic honeycomb structure made of silicon carbide – allowing exhaust gas to flow through porous walls that capture more than 99 per cent of the particles.
Hug Engineering also offers professional after-sales services such as system maintenance, technical support, spare parts replacement, staff training and the proper disposal and recycling of equipment to support clients’ compliance with increasingly strict environmental legislation.
“R&D also means applying technologies to customer needs,” Fuss says. “Asia is very distinctive when it comes to specific technology requirements, and we need to cover that in an appropriate way. As our business internationalises, we will gradually offer customised cutting-edge technologies to China and other Asian countries.”
As more stringent environmental regulations develop in Asia – where China has already released a new emission standard to make two-thirds of all new heavy-duty vehicles soot-free by 2021 – Hug Engineering looks to localise its technologies in markets such as China, South Korea, Japan and Singapore.
The company will be expanding its local team in China and welcomes university collaborations in R&D, and partnerships with other Asian companies.
“Over the past years with our highly skilled international team, we have gained the most experience in emission reduction technologies globally,” Fuss says. “We want to become the ambassador of these technologies in Asia. Through Faurecia, Hug Engineering has the financial backbone and leverage to achieve that goal. That’s why we believe that we will become the global market leader in this segment over the coming years.”