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Perspective | energy management


bands. It is worth noting that the ‘A’ band has to be difficult to achieve to provide some ‘future-proofing’ of the systems and to account for future technology improvements.


The mechanics of operating a rating system for injection moulding machines is straightforward: l The manufacturer tests the machine to Euromap 60 to find the SEC value for the relevant cycle; l The manufacturer calculates the kg/hr for the machine from the test data; l The manufacturer submits all the data to an inde- pendent body; l The independent body assesses, validates and approves the data, calculates the rating and issues a rating label as shown in Figure 3. The rating label would be very similar to the labels


already used for a range of consumer products and would have immediate purchaser recognition. As with other labelling schemes, the label could be used not only on the actual product but also in sales literature for the product, provided the label is clearly related to the machine being promoted.


So where next? Customers need to see the costs and benefits of energy efficient machines to make informed decisions. This simple methodology could allow manufacturers to mark their machines with an energy rating that is determined by an external and impartial body rather than reliance on internal claims and information which is always subject to doubt and uncertainty. Similar schemes are already available in the EU for products ranging from refrigerators to windows.


Energy rating has been shown to


drive improvement in all types of products. This is an opportunity for the injection moulding industry to use rating to drive energy efficiency improvement. The proposed rating scheme is appli-


cable to all types of injection moulding machines (hydraulic, all-electric and hybrid) and allows ‘fair, accurate and credible’ comparison of the energy consumption of the machine. For the first time, purchasers would be able to compare the energy use of machines under specific operating conditions that take the production rate into account. Tangram Technology invites any organisations wishing to take part in such a scheme to get in contact.


About the author Dr Robin Kent is founder of Tangram Technology and an acknowledged authority on energy efficient plastics manufacturing. He has published more than 400 technical papers and articles and has written two books on plastics processing – Cost Management in Plastics Processing and Energy Management in Plastics Processing. He was responsible for establishing the British Fenestration Rating Council, the UK certification body for energy rating of windows and doors. This article outlines his belief that an energy rating scheme for injection moulding machines is both achievable and desirable. ❙ Tangram Technology +44 (0)1462 437 686 ❙ rkent@tangram.co.uk


Figure 3:


A proposed injection moulding


machine rating label


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