ENERGY MANAGEMENT | MACHINERY
Adopting carbon-free power
Machinery maker Davis-Standard says all its North American facilities are now powered by 100% carbon-free electricity.
It has done this by purchasing
certified Renewable Energy Certifi- cates (RECs) for its Pawcatuk and Fulton facilities. These guarantee that
the electricity used in these locations is generated from renewable sources, such as wind or solar power. In addition, its Greater Toronto Area operations use electricity from hydroelectric sources, further adding to its use of carbon-free energy. “This reflects our commitment to
machine,” said Axmann. Sustainability was a key factor that tipped the balance in favour of acquiring an all-electric machine. “Energy efficiency is the most important criterion whenever we invest in new machines and technolo- gies,” said Axmann. “Especially for machines making packaging products – which require extremely fast movements and high injection speeds – energy efficiency is a decisive factor in reaching the required lowest possible per-unit cost. Compared to a hybrid machine, the EcoPower Xpress consumes over 30% less electricity when used with the same mould.” As a member of the German Federal Association
for the Promotion of Energy Efficiency (BVFE), it is important for Axmann to keep energy consumption as low as possible. “In the last few years, we have reduced total energy consumption by 1.5 million kWh,” he said. The company recently extended its photovoltaic system to generate its own electricity – and is already discussing with Wittmann how it could use a battery storage system.
Direct approach KraussMaffei showed a range of its injection moulding machinery at the NPE show, including direct compounding equipment and a new MuCell screw – both of which offer energy-saving advan- tages. The company says direct compounding injection moulding (DCIM) can help to halve material costs while also saving energy. For DCIM, a single-screw extruder is installed in a space-saving piggyback position directly over the injection unit of a standard hydraulic machine. Compounded melt is conveyed into the plasti- cising unit in a single heating process, which cut polymer degradation. The one-step process also conserves energy and reduces the CO2 footprint. At NPE, a GX 1100-4300 DCIM was seen producing
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sustainability and our dedication to reducing our environmental impact,” said Giovanni Spitale, CEO of Davis- Standard. This complements existing ISO 14001-certified facilities and its Maillefer brand’s EcoVadis Silver Award. �
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reusable crates made of three different recycled materials.
An intuitive machine function called SmartOp-
eration simplifies startup and control -- enabling defect-free operation as well as increased process stability and higher production efficiency in production. The company also highlighted its new universal
screw for MuCell applications, which has a 30% higher plasticising performance and can help to cut energy use. It has a longer three-zone area, which can be used for all plastics (with and without fibre reinforcement). It allows smaller screw diameters to be used, which reduces investment and operating costs for the plasticising unit.
Ancillary assistance Ancillary products can also help to cut energy consumption on the factory floor. ICS Cool Energy, for instance, recently expanded its iTemp tempera- ture control units with its new Ecoline series. The new units are designed to meet the demand- ing needs of plastic moulding processes and other industrial applications, with high energy efficiency and temperature management accuracy. They offer heating capacity of 9-36 kW with water tempera- tures up to 180°C and flow rates up to 230 l/min.
Below: KraussMaffei says its direct compounding injection moulding process can cut material costs
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July/August 2024 | INJECTION WORLD 29
IMAGE: KRAUSSMAFFEI
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