Product category:
General Machining Subcontracting Services
News Release from: Rodmatic | Subject: JON
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 16 May 2007
Subcontract company conducts
environmental survey
Rodmatic called in the Carbon Trust to carry out a full environmental survey, which resulted in a saving of GBP11,800 and 77 tonnes of CO2 a year.
At Rodmatic, with a little attention to environmental issues we have added GBP11,800 to our bottom line this year and contributed a saving of some 77 tonnes of CO2 We have also enjoyed other spin-offs from the formation of an energy saving team such as improved health and safety and, in particular, improved communications with the work force
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 29 Jun 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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There is so much hype today over green issues and in particular carbon emissions.
The problem for any business - especially small to medium size companies - is that management has to seek a return for any investment and be very aware that people do not commit valuable time chasing rainbows and lose sight of the original objective of being a business.
Rodmatic has two subcontract machining divisions: One, Rodmatic Hytek, is set up using the latest manufacturing technology for complex single operation production, while Rodmatic Multico is a volume production shop with 37 multi-spindle autos that run around the clock.
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The management team is very aware of environmental issues but, like most companies, time is premium.
So we called in the Carbon Trust to carry out a full environmental survey of our 18,000 ft2 premises and the results proved to be highly beneficial and thought provoking.
For instance, while we have always been aware to switch-off office equipment out of hours, the survey revealed that a more rigorous regime would only save 0.7 tonne CO2 and around GBP100 in a year.
That would not even pay for time switches.
We more effectively saved GBP200 and 1.7 tonnes of CO2 a year by installing float switches to our oil storage tanks to control the pumps.
But where the Carbon Trust survey came into its own was the replacement of our air compressor generating a massive GBP4,900 saving in the first year and reducing our CO2 footprint by 32.6 tonnes.
Not only did we get an interest free loan under the Energy Loan Scheme through the Trust, but also the compressor will pay for itself in two years, is quieter in operation and only runs on demand.
We now have very clean dry air that reduces maintenance, saving a further GBP1,400 a year, and we have ducted the exhaust to provide a warm air curtain over the doors of the loading bay.
Other initial areas, such as improving heating efficiency, will save GBP1,200 and 7 tonnes of CO2; and replacing motors when we have service problems instead of rewinding will save us GBP1,300 a year and give us a payback in 1.6 years while creating CO2 savings of 9.2 tonnes a year.
Rather than opt for energy saving light fittings, modern metallic reflectors have been installed that have transformed the lighting in the factory saving the purchase of additional lights.
These benefits are just from Phase 1 of our activity and have been achieved from a two-day Carbon Trust study.
As we are moving through Phase 2 we are collating and analysing electrical data to determine patterns of usage with a potential saving of GBP2,600 in a year for an investment of GBP2,000.
Following the advice given, we have now set an attainable target to reduce our carbon footprint by a further 20 per cent.
Any future improvements and investments will be evaluated for their merit that will include the CO2 footprint as well as other benefits to the business and we are seriously looking towards local suppliers when practical.
For the longer term, once we have completed Phase 2, we plan to re-evaluate results, the effects on the business and reset targets for our energy saving team.
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