R&D activities for dryers focused on the further development of belt drying systems. New sizes were developed and an entire new design based on a full concrete casing was successfully introduced to the market.

A further development of the belt drying system for drying bark, saw dust, and other types of biomass using waste heat from thermal processes was also started. The Andritz EcoDry system was further optimized.

The new drive system for centrifuges successfully proved its long-term reliability. This technology will now be transferred to other centrifuge sizes.

The medium-term program to rationalize and standardize the Andritz, Bird and Humboldt products continued. This included modernization of designs, cost reductions, and improvement of performance. Research work continued in order to broaden the applications for centrifuges and rotating filters.

The program to merge the filter press designs of Ritterhaus & Blecher and NETZSCH Filtration in order to combine the advantages of both designs at optimum costs was almost completed.