Nordzucker AG inaugurates new extraction tower at Schladen, Germany; saves up to 22 tonnes CO2 daily
Nordzucker AG | Communications & Public Affairs | Nicole Dinter | Tel: +49 531 2411-158 E-Mail: nordzuckercommunications@nordzucker.com | www.nordzucker.com
New extraction tower at Nordzucker’s Schladen factory increases efficiency in sugar production With the inauguration of a new extraction tower, Nordzucker is improving the efficiency of sugar production at its Schladen factory and reducing energy consumption in the production process at the same time. A new grid connection substation provides state-of-the-art energy security for the site. Braunschweig, 14 August 2026 – Nordzucker today officially inaugurated a new extraction tower at its Schladen site. The facility plays a central role in sugar production: it is here that the sugar is extracted from the beet pulp and prepared for further processing. With this new facility, Nordzucker is investing in modern plant technology whilst optimising the efficiency of sugar production. The new extraction tower was built to replace the previous unit, which could only continue to operate on a limited basis following damage sustained in 2024. Following the laying of the foundations in 2025, assembly began in early 2026. “The new extraction tower ensures that sugar is extracted even more efficiently from the beet pulp whilst reducing the energy requirements of the production process. In this way, we are supporting our ongoing efforts to further reduce the CO₂ emissions from our production,” says Ulrich Overwin, Head of Factory in Schladen. Measuring 39 metres in height, with a diameter of twelve metres and a volume of 2,100 cubic metres, the new tower is designed to handle the factory’s processing capacity of around 10,500 tonnes of beet per day. The plant allows the beet pulp to remain in the tower for a significantly longer period compared with the previous tower. This enables the sugar to be extracted more efficiently, significantly reducing the proportion of residual sugar in the pulp. At the same time, less water is required in the subsequent production process, which reduces energy consumption. As a result, the new tower saves up to 22 tonnes of CO₂ per day during the campaign compared with the old facility – equivalent to roughly the annual CO₂ emissions of three to four German citizens. “The new extraction tower in Schladen is a prime example of our approach to combining technical innovation with sustainable production. Investments in energy- efficient processes are a key component of our decarbonisation strategy. With projects such as this, we are gradually reducing the energy requirements of our Press release
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