ASCO: How well known is dry ice in Poland as a refrigeration solution?
Jacek Bulawa: It is a solution that is in demand, but it is only used where other technologies cannot be used. What are the main alternatives used in industries like food and beverage? Chiller units are the most popular standard of refrigeration. The alternatives to this solution are cold boxes with euthectic plates or with dry ice snow like the “Siber System”
ASCO: Which industries have the greatest need for dry ice in Poland?
Jacek Bulawa: The food industry still has the greatest demand for dry ice, and I assume that it will increase in the near future. Nevertheless, we should not ignore the use of dry ice as a cleaning agent in connection with dry ice blasting for numerous purposes.
ASCO: How is dry ice demand developing in your country overall?
Jacek Bulawa: I watch our sales carefully and my opinion is based on a number of enquiries from many companies, so I am convinced that the Polish market can grow by more than 10% annually.
ASCO: What is the current situation of the CO2 market in Poland in general?
Jacek Bulawa: The CO2 market has changed only marginally in the last 2 years. Although it is growing and so is demand, we are faced with limited availability of the product. This is currently a major challenge for gas companies. In my opinion, this could be solved by the global decarbonisation efforts, by using the captured CO2 ("CCU - Carbon Capture & Utilization") and by implementing improvements in the chemical sector.
ASCO Pelletizer BP420 and APM120 from "Messer Poland"
ASCO: how do you see the development in the future?
Jacek Bulawa: It seems that decarbonisation processes will accelerate as several new pilot projects have been launched in the context of technological change to limit CO2 emissions, especially from industrial processes, through "capturing". In this respect, we can expect interesting changes in the near future, especially in the CO2 market and in the application of dry ice.
ASCO: What CO2 sources does Messer have in Poland and how many CO2 recovery plants do you operate?
Jacek Bulawa: Messer in Poland has a CO2 source based on chemical production. This source is located in the most industrial part of the country. As far as recovery plants are concerned, Messer is open to suggestions for alternative gas sources.
ASCO: Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) as a contribution to slowing down climate change is currently a big topic worldwide. What is the status quo in Poland, what feedback do you receive as Messer Poland?
Jacek Bulawa: We have received some enquiries about CCS from the glass industry or the cement industry, among others, because climate change is a major challenge for the economy. This is already a fact that will increase the interest in CCS.
ASCO: Messer Poland offers not only industrial gases, but also various services. Which services can your customers benefit from?
Jacek Bulawa: We are proud that we can always deliver fresh and high-quality products to our customers thanks to the use of dry ice. The CO2 volume is continuously growing year by year, which makes me very happy. Not only do we offer dry ice in various forms, but we also advise customers on which is the best application in terms of cost, operational and production processes. In addition, we can perfectly match the most suitable hardware to the customer's needs and help with the installation and commissioning of the system. We simply offer our customers added value to save money, time and, of course, the environment.
Jacek Bulawa
Head of Technology and Applications
Website: www.messer.pl