ExxonMobil, ENER-G create energy efficiency guide for plastics industry
A free energy efficiency guide has been created by companies ExxonMobil and ENER-G to help plastics manufacturers save on costs.
The guide offers advice and practical suggestions on how managers can prioritize production while saving energy costs at the same time. It recommends adopting an integrated energy strategy, including smart metering and control strategies, energy audits, decentralized energy generation such as combined heat and power (CHP), and changing to more energy-efficient lubricants.
The guide also provides best-practice tips on reducing energy demand in offices, factories and warehouses; summarizes the financial help available for implementing energy efficient measures such as CHP; describes how the right lubricant selection can help companies save energy; and provides guidance on legislative and regulatory compliance.
“Industrial energy bills can be reduced by as much as one fifth through simple, cost-effective measures to cut wastage,” said Chris Marsland, technical director for ENER-G. “The guide outlines how on-site energy generation using efficient, low carbon technologies, such as combined heat and power, can create enormous savings. The latest research shows that inefficient energy production is costing the UK £9.5 billion per year, whereas decentralized energy production using CHP can achieve cost savings of up to 40% over electricity sourced from the grid and heat generated by on-site boilers.”
The guide also contains advice from experts at ExxonMobil on how high-performance synthetic lubricants can help companies save energy.
“High-performance lubricants, such as the Mobil SHC Gear series, can help businesses to enhance energy savings, improve productivity, and provide safety benefits by cutting unscheduled maintenance,” said Andrea Jacobsen, industrial marketing manager for Europe, Africa and Middle East, ExxonMobil. “The plastics sector, like many other energy-intensive industries, is looking at ways to cuts its energy consumption without hampering productivity. We hope this guide will help increase awareness of the important role that lubricants can play in attaining that goal.”
Jacobsen highlighted the case studies in the guide, pointing out how these demonstrate the practical benefits of Mobil-branded lubricants. “In addition to helping customers to reduce costs, these lubricants can also help businesses achieve the requirements of ISO 50001 Energy Management certification. This is why lubricant choice should be a key consideration for companies that are looking to become more energy efficient.”
ExxonMobil has a range of lubricants with proven energy efficiency benefits, such as the Mobil SHC 600 Series, which is formulated to provide balanced performance in demanding applications at both high and low temperatures. Mobil SHC 600 Series products have demonstrated up to 3.6% improvement in energy efficiency in controlled laboratory testing while also providing excellent resistance to oxidation and deposit formation at elevated temperatures. Their exceptional resistance to rusting and corrosion offers additional protection, which can help increase productivity.