The results from the cost models show that the machine tool mass is a significant cost driver other key drivers are the number of axes and spindle power. Then, empirical cost models are fit to this data. To explore the cost drivers associated with building a machine tool, data on the features associated with a wide variety of vertical milling machine tools are collected. However, it may also be the case that lightweighting a machine tool increases its complexity, which will likely drive up the cost to manufacture the machine. One might also hypothesize that since a lighter-weight machine tool requires less material to build, the cost to produce such a machine will be less. Thus, the energy cost of machine operation will be reduced. Lightweighting can be applied to machine tools to reduce the amount of energy consumed during the use phase. On the back of this success, the company is exploring the financial cost and projected energy savings involved in replacing at least one of its furnaces.Lightweighting is a design strategy to reduce energy consumption through the reduction of mass of a product. As well as significantly reducing the amount of electricity used by the company, the new compressor is quieter, will need to be serviced far less frequently than the old machines, and delivers a much better quality of air to point of use. So far these have not been needed, as the single compressor provides all the compressed air required for the foundry, and the supply can be precisely controlled. The company also held onto several smaller compressors to top up the air supply if necessary. Three fixed-speed rotary screw air compressors were replaced with one large variable speed machine. A certain amount of power was inevitably wasted as the levels could not be altered on individual machines. THE TECHNOLOGY:- Hadleigh Castings previously had six compressors of various sizes, three of which were controlled by specialised software to generate the right amount of compressed air. Installed at the end of 2008, the new compressor is on target to save the company 78.92 tonnes of CO2 a year, reducing the energy bill by £11,330 – based on today’s prices. ![]() With an interest-free loan from the Carbon Trust of £30,000, Hadleigh Castings replaced the fixed speed compressor with a variable speed option, ensuring that energy is not wasted. The decision to update the system with a more efficient alternative was made for the company when the largest compressor fell over. We are therefore proud to announce that the goal has been achieved and we look forward to the benefits that this well respected standard will provide to all stakeholders in what continues to be a challenging economic climate.Ĭompressing the carbon footprint of Hadleigh Castings THE BUSINESS CASE:- The foundry is heavily dependent on a regular supply of high quality compressed air, produced using compressors which consume large amounts of increasingly expensive electricity. The key changes were the further development of Project Management of new product, the awareness of foreign object detection and the further enhancement of the BMS in general. From a Quality Assurance perspective this involved careful preparation and fine tuning of the current process-based Business Management System. This standard is universally acceptedand was proving to be a key factor when new clients made enquiries to the company’s Commercial Team. The decision was therefore taken in early 2013 to look at achieving a Defence /Aerospace standard, namely AS9100 with BV as our accreditation body. ![]() After this successful transition it became clear that although IRIS was recognised in continental Europe, it was not totally embraced in the UK and outside of the Rail Sector. In 2009 the company was being driven by its key Rail Customers to achieve IRIS this was successfully achieved in July 2009 after the company went through re certification with Bureau Veritas. This newly achieved Quality Standard gives the company a suite of Quality Accreditations which compliments the companies status as a high end specialist Aluminium Foundry. After a relatively short period of transition Hadleigh Castings are pleased to announce that it has achieved accreditation to AS9100 Rev C.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |