Date: October 18, 2018
Location: Barnsdorf, Roth (Germany)
Address: Barnsdorfer Hauptstraße 5, 91154
Type: Potential Dust Explosion
Fuel: Aluminum Dust
Industry: Chemical Processing
Equipment: No Details
Company: Carl Schlenk AG
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: One Fatality, Two Injuries
Capital Cost: 160,000 euros
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to the company website, Carl Schlenk AG was founded in 1879 and produces metallic pigments, aluminum, copper, and copper alloy powders for technical and industrial purposes as well as metal foils and strips for a wide variety of industries. In recent years, Schlenk has expanded into ‘green’ technology products, such as building materials that contribute to energy efficiency and solvent-free colour systems.
Incident Description:
On October 19, 2018, the Nordbayern reported an explosion and fire at a chemical processing plant in Barnsdorf, Germany. The incident damaged the roof of a production hall and created a huge cloud of smoke that could be seen for miles around.
One 53-year-old worker suffered second and third-degree burns. He was flown by helicopter to a special burn treatment center in Munich but died the following day. Two other people experienced minor injuries.
After fire and emergency crews attended the scene, the police carried out an assessment and estimated the damage at 160,000 euros.
Previous Incidents:
On April 5, 2018, Reporter24 reported a fire at the Schlenk plant in Barnsdorf. According to initial findings, it was believed that aluminum powder caught fire due to a still unresolved cause. Due to the strong smoke, nearby homes were evacuated. The resulting damage was estimated at about 1 million euros.
Sources:
Nordbayern
Reporter24
