Energy Efficiency – Urban Companies Are Not a Plus When it Comes to The Urban Carbon Footprint

(FRIMO Group)

Enterprises located on the outskirts of cities decisively contribute to the overall energy consumption. Furthermore, they are commonly not a plus (to put it mildly) when it comes to the urban carbon footprint. The fact that most of the urban companies are located at the urban fringe does not mean that they can be neglected concerning sustainable urbanization.

Generally speaking, energy costs account for 10% of all production costs

General advice regarding peak energy demand identification, weekend energy use, start-up spikes, or weeknight setbacks are much-touted hints. But when it comes to companies applying thermoforming, things are getting more specific. It is one of the rather energy-intensive production processes and can be described as a process of heating a sheet of thermoplastic so that it softens up to solidify it into the desired shape. Although, thermoforming is most commonly used in food packaging, however, it is spread over several other applications like plastic toys, cafeteria trays to that of aircraft windscreens.

Energy-intensive industries:  Up to 40% of the production costs are caused by energy

With the increase in the market size of thermoforming, companies find this to be very competitive and are looking for ways through which they can gain efficiencies. A huge portion of the success of any company can be associated with the efficiencies they already have or the efficiencies they can create.

Whether a company is involved in a large or a small volume job, thermoforming process is a cost-efficient manufacturing option. In addition to this, there are also sustainable options for thermoforming both on the material as well as production side of things. Companies like FRIMO can implement sustainable practices either by using sustainable materials for creating packages or through recycling practices.

The FRIMO Group, headquartered in the small German city of Lotte, with over 50 years of experiences in manufacturing plastic components is very acquainted with thermoforming processes. For a globally exporting company like FRIMO, relatively small energy efficiency improvements can lead to huge overall energy savings.

Fortunately, there are plenty ways to save energy in the realms of thermoforming. FRIMO, for example, developed its so-called EcoForm, a very accurately working thermoforming machine which optimally meets the customer’s needs. By reducing waste heat through an insulated main heating system, a major share of the required energy has been reduced. Furthermore, it is possible to put the inactive heating system in an “insulated or partitioned parking position” which reduces the power consumption. Very efficient motors, energy recovering systems, and an optimized cooling air flow which cools the molded part more targeted additionally help to conserve the environment and also to cut energy costs.

Manufacturing plants can be seen as a complex energy environment

Environment-conscious companies find thermoforming to be very useful as they can recycle materials and reduce wastage level by implementing careful production techniques and conscientious production methods. Sustainable thermoforming processes have emerged to be a very cost-efficient method of manufacturing for most companies these days.

Energy conservation can create many new jobs in companies

Producing thermoplastic moldings, thermoforming process is chosen alongside with the process of injection molding. The most essential benefit associated with thermoforming lies in its economical manufacture of all thermoforming tools. Comparing this method with the injection molding method the cost associated with molding tools may probably work up to less than 90%.

Versatility and cost-effectiveness are considered to be the assets of the process of thermoforming. Components that are thermo-moulded can be manufactured precisely and rapidly. The best thing is that the results are very convincing even when complicated designs are required. Unlike other procedures, thermoforming has a shorter lead-time, even the smallest of the details can be added, initial project costs are low, can be used in a variety of finishes and textures along with providing an excellent volume/quality ratio.