For Phoenix 3D Metaal, sustainability is a priority they are tackling proactively; customers are asking about it more often and it is an integral part of the business strategy. Jan-Willem knew that the six press brakes, lasers and presses consumed a lot of energy, but the exact breakdown was missing.
Following an enthusiastic recommendation from another company already working with Sensorfact, Jan-Willem decided to put it to the test.
“We thought we knew, but we wanted to be sure.”
According to Jan-Willem, installing the sensors was “a piece of cake”. Without interrupting production, the clamps were fitted to the lasers, robots and heavy presses.
It didn’t take long for the scales to fall from their eyes. Whilst the new laser cutting machines proved surprisingly economical, the hydraulic presses were the real energy guzzlers. One specific press was found to consume €18 per hour in electricity even when idle. That meant money was simply going up in smoke during breaks or when a machine was left running unnecessarily.
The first measure had an immediate effect: all presses are now consistently switched off during breaks. But the real result became apparent with the 8,000-tonne Loire press. This giant turned out to be responsible for a third of the factory’s total consumption.
Thanks to Sensorfact’s 100% hard data, a major overhaul project was launched:
In addition, measurements taken during downtime revealed that the compressors were cycling unnecessarily often due to leaks in the compressed air system. This too could be addressed immediately. The path towards a 90% reduction has thus been firmly set in motion by realising savings from internal consumption.
Whether you want to save on energy or avoid maintenance, we can show you how our smart monitoring solution will benefit your plant. Don’t wait any longer and start saving on time and costs right away.
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