FEATURE POWER MANAGEMENT
CLOSING THE LOOP: electrical engineering welcomes EU move
The EU’s Circular Economy Package is a welcome initiative spotlighting the importance of remanufactured power and distribution equipment, says Nick Bull of Slaters Electricals
T
he recent package of measures announced by the EU will
undoubtedly stimulate moves toward a circular economy, boosting competitiveness, nurturing sustainable growth and creating jobs but it has to be seen as much more than that. It signals a fundamental shift in the way products can be manufactured, transforming the way the economy works within a framework that can deliver real change and business opportunity. As a remanufacturer of end of life products this has to be welcomed; our power distribution equipment provides a quick, cost effective, high performance and environmentally friendly solution that meets the best practice of a circular economy that reshapes markets and improves competitiveness. Transformers and their associated
switchgear are an integral part of an electrical power network. Industrial transformers ensure that power is delivered to site at the required voltage and industrial switchgear ensures the safe operation and maintenance of transformers and other electrical equipment. Remanufacturing these units offers a cost effective means to complement the supply of new power distribution equipment. Traditional business practices can lead to the over use of natural resources and energy and produces large amounts of waste, potentially causing severe environmental impact. The Circular Economy concept offers the opportunity for businesses to mitigate the impact of their activities by adopting a more strategic and thoughtful approach to the use of materials, energy and labour. According to the Ellen MacArthur foundation the Circular Economy is “one that is restorative by design and which aims to keep products, components and materials at their highest utility and value at all times”. While recycling of materials is not a new concept, the Circular Economy process covers the whole length of the supply chain from initial design to the product end life, ensuring the maximum value of a product is derived by retaining as much of the embedded materials,
6 MARCH 2016 | FACTORY EQUIPMENT
labour and energy invested in the original product. Refurbishing or remanufacturing parts or the products themselves and the re-use and redistribution of refurbished products is critical in minimising the need for completely new components and units to be manufactured with the attendant heavy demand for materials, labour and energy.
REMANUFACTURING USES 85% LESS ENERGY Evidence to support the circular remanufacturing process is strong. The All-party Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group (APSRG) recently produced two reports estimating that remanufacturing typically uses 85% less energy than manufacturing and is currently worth £2.4 billion to the UK economy with the potential to increase to £5.6 billion and the creation of thousands of skilled jobs. The remanufacturing of transformers
and industrial power distribution equipment is commercially and technically feasible when the product
meets three conditions: l it has a high embedded value through the materials and/or labour used in the original construction.
l it has a slow technological evolution rate and is not subject to legislative restrictions or can be upgraded to overcome these.
l its design allows for re-constructibility including disassembly, overhaul, re-assembly and testing.
Slaters have remanufactured power
Transformers and their associated switchgear are an integral part of an electrical power network
distribution equipment for more than 70 years, returning end of service transformers and switchgear to their original performance. We have developed a business model offering customers new or remanufactured equipment either on a permanent sale or temporary leasing basis. Slaters can remanufacture customer equipment using our in-house stock of power distribution spares. Temporary leasing can be advantageous for customers requiring short-term transformer equipment for extra power requirements, in emergencies or due to budget restrictions as no large upfront investment is needed and can be paid for over the hire period. While newly manufactured transformers tend to be more expensive than remanufactured units they are produced in accordance with the recent EU Ecodesign directive which requires new transformers placed on the market after 1 July 2015 to meet strict energy efficiency requirements. It must be stressed that
remanufactured units are not subject to the Ecodesign directive, allowing us to reuse and remanufacture transformer units and components while being fully compliant with EU legislation. There are challenges to remanufacturing power distribution equipment. Some customers may be unfamiliar with buying equipment that is not new or perceive remanufactured units to be ‘second hand’ and therefore ‘second rate’. However, they can be installed on a like-for-like basis or configured to specific orders and customer requirements. They can be supplied with shorter lead
times, are typically 35-40% cheaper than a new unit and offered with an extended warranty to that of a new equivalent. Offering new or remanufactured transformers and switchgear means that we can be flexible to our customers’ requirements as well as upholding our business philosophy of trying to be ethical wherever possible by mitigating waste and reducing the environmental impact of the manufacturing process.
Slaters Electricals T: 0191 414 2916
www.slaters-electricals.com
/ FACTORYEQUIPMENT
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