– Achieving ISO 50001 in the process
After a four-day audit, industry-leading systems supplier VEKA Group was awarded the International Standard ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems.
2018 alone saw enough energy saved to power 750 average-sized houses for a full year.
MD Dave Jones explains: “We’re very proud to have seen our hard work in this area recognised, but the certification is by no means the ‘end point’, rather, an important milestone in our continuous endeavour to reduce energy across the business.
“One of VEKA Group’s biggest energy-related investments in recent years was a new substation that enabled the introduction of 81 sub-meters across the business. These give instant measurable feedback on our usage and any improvement actions taken.
“We replaced an existing transformer with a newer, more energy-efficient version which achieved a saving of 30,000kWh / year, and our Operations Managers have set energy consumption parameters for the extrusion lines which are checked every day. Significant parts of the extrusion equipment have also been upgraded saving 255,000kWh per year.
“An ongoing switch over to LED lighting across the site has so far saved 350,000 kWh per year (or enough energy to power 75 average-sized homes a year).
“Refurbishment of one of the office blocks allowed the latest energy-efficient air conditioning units to be introduced, saving 30% against the originals, and background heat is provided via heat recovery units fitted on our compressors. Compressed air plays an important part in our manufacturing process and our compressors have been optimised via a new computer programme, reducing their running by 1500 hours per year without affecting production.
“Our energy-saving efforts also extend to our vehicles; a replacement programme means the whole HGV fleet is now ‘Euro 6’ and, along with effective load and route planning, this has reduced fuel consumption by an amazing 20% over the past 12 months.
“Continuing to reduce our corporate energy consumption has both environmental and business benefits. VEKA and Halo customers can rest assured they’re working with a company that is focussed on sustainability and environmental responsibility, and, if we continue to reduce our usage as energy costs continue to rise, we will be doing our utmost to avoid resultant price increases being passed to our customers.
“We’re training a number of ‘energy champions’ within the VEKA Group team who will have responsibility for cascading information to colleagues about how we can continue to further reduce energy usage across the business.
“VEKA Group is incredibly proud to have made these savings and to have attained ISO 50001, but we certainly won’t stop here. I’m looking forward to seeing what more we can achieve in the coming years!”
