2004-04-02 - The Coventry-based steel wheel manufacturer received the award from ABB Drives Alliance partner Sentridge Control in recognition of its outstanding achievement in saving over 1374 MWh during 2003 - equating to 605 tonnes of CO2.
Magnetto-Topy’s outstanding energy saving was achieved by investing just £31,000 in seven ABB drives. Four drives, rated from 37 to 55 kW, are used on water pumps within four cooling towers. Two, 37 kW drives are used on paint filtration in-line pumps within the company’s wheel paint line. A further 37 kW drive controls a pump in a compressor house. Payback is expected in just under one year.
In addition, there was a significant reduction in pump noise, which will help the former Dunlop company meet new health and safety levels set at 80dbA.
The cooling tower drives have replaced star-delta switching which turned the pumps on or off. Under the previous arrangements, the pumps were left running at full speed on 50Hz, regardless of production needs.
With the drives fitted, Magnetto-Topy has been able to reduce the running speed on one pump, rated at 55 kW, to 35 Hz, resulting in a 53% energy saving. On three other pumps the running speed is reduced to between 40 to 45 Hz, reducing energy consumption between 33 and 46%.
Steve Ruddell, general manager for ABB’s drives and motors comments: “The energy saving achievements of Magnetto-Topy, while significant, only scratch the surface of what can be achieved. If this company can save over 1,000 MWh of energy on seven pumps and fans just think what UK industry could be saving collectively. The figures are mind blowing. And with industry out to cut costs wherever possible, what easier win is there than taking a hard look at your electricity bill.”
Dave Pound, Operations Manager at Magnetto-Topy comments: “We have a very proactive policy to reduce our energy consumption. But variable speed drives are different to the usual measures like switching off lights etc. With drives you know it is going to work from the moment they are switched on and you walk away, unlike some other measures, where you need the involvement of people to remember to switch off lights.”
Magnetto-Topy is the UK’s only producer of steel wheels, with the capacity to manufacture 90,000 each week, primarily for Nissan UK, Peugeot in UK and France, Vauxhall, Opel, LDV, MGRover and Land Rover.
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