An Energy Project Saves A $1.2mln Investment In Robotic Plastic Moulding Machine
At a recent compressed air audit at plastic molding plant we found that bad design of compressed air system caused a 500t molding machine to produce scrap, unpredictably, from time to time. Client has just acquired this machine for $1.2mln to meet high throughput demand of their automotive client. With this scrap level they were at risk of missing [...]
50 ways to waste energy in your business
Our UK colleague Vilnis Vesma produced a funny article on how to waste energy. I republish it with his permission. Please note invitation to training at the end. This article is based on something Vilnis Vesma produced for a group of energy champions that he had been training. It was intended as a light-hearted "sideways look" at the [...]
Make Invisible Energy Waste Visible in 15 Minutes
Energy is invisible. And so is energy waste. But it still costs. Often a lot. How to make energy waste visible in the boardroom? Here is a fast, simple and no-cost tool to assess how much energy your plant wastes Fast – takes 15 minutes, Simple – no research needed, plain English, no calculations No-cost – just click through [...]
Is Production Cheaper During Night Shift?
I have recently come across a recommendation to shift production load of a big injection moulding machine to reduce demand during forecasted provincial peaks. If machine is loaded during day and not loaded during night and electricity is cheaper during night, then it seems like a no-brainer. I am not convinced in validity of such approach. Energy cost savings [...]
How to prevent plant stoppage through energy management
A mere 1 month after an Energy Management Information System (EMIS) project was postponed ‘due to other priorities’ our client’s plant has stopped for 3 days. About $500,000 lost in pre-holidays food product sales. Not to count costs of avoidable urgent repairs and value of lost trust from clients. Why did plant stop? Boiler failed. Why was boiler damaged? [...]
What To Expect From Energy Efficiency Projects And What Not To Expect
Ever wondered what should you realistically expect from a particular efficiency project? I found an answer in a well-written white paper from EATON. The paper explains what results can be expected from different efficiency measures and what claims are just myths. Most of what is stated for commercial facilities is true for an industrial setting as well. My favourite [...]
How To Extend Christmas Through Energy Management
Does your CFO say that energy savings are too small to bother? Here is a simple way to show how savings on energy translate into profit and production volume. Energy cost reduction increases profit. How much product should be shipped to generate the same profit? To find this out, divide energy cost reduction by net profit margin (NPM) of [...]