Manufacturers can reduce material waste and enhance product quality
STORAGE , HANDLING & DISTRIBUTION MATERIAL HANDLING
GOUGH ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS
Manufacturers can reduce material waste and enhance product quality
Research by the National Association of Manufacturers ( NAM ) found that 58 per cent of manufacturers considered sustainability essential for competitiveness . Sustainability is a strategic imperative , including in material handling processes . Here , Carl Hodges , business development manager at Gough Engineering , the materials handling specialist , explores five ways manufacturers can reduce their environmental footprint .
NAM ’ s research , conducted in 2022 , marked a sharp increase from 38 per cent the previous year , demonstrating that sustainability is moving up manufacturers ’ agendas . However , manufacturers face a dual challenge in their pursuit of sustainability : balancing environmental goals with operational efficiency and costeffectiveness .
Transitioning to greener practices often requires substantial investments in new technologies or equipment , which can pose financial challenges and disrupt established workflows . Despite these hurdles , integrating sustainable solutions into material handling processes is crucial for reducing environmental impact and maintaining competitiveness .
Here , we delve into five methods through which material handling equipment can advance sustainability while enhancing operational efficiency .
1 . Lowering energy consumption
Reducing energy consumption is pivotal to sustainable
Gough Engineering ’ s Vibrecon ® vibratory separators feature an energy-efficient design , minimising power use while efficiently handling materials .
manufacturing practices . Energyefficient equipment , such as motors equipped with variable frequency drives ( VFDs ) and high-efficiency conveyor systems , plays a critical role in achieving this goal . VFDs allow precise control over motor speed and torque , optimising energy usage during varying operational demands .
Gough Engineering ’ s Vibrecon ® vibratory separators exemplify energy-efficient design . Engineered to minimise power consumption while transferring product efficiently , these separators utilise advanced vibratory technology tailored to specific material handling requirements . This gives consistent , reliable performance so motors run smoothly and efficiently , minimising environmental impact . The approach not only reduces operational costs but also contributes to a lower carbon footprint while securing production quality objectives .
2 . Reducing material waste Effective management of material waste is imperative for sustainable manufacturing . Accumulated waste and spillage can create risk zones that affect not only the wear and overload on mechanical systems and safety risks for operators , but also pose potential fire hazards for certain materials .
To mitigate these effects , industrial sieves , such as vibratory and centrifugal separators , are instrumental in classifying and sorting raw materials , ensuring uniformity and minimising waste during production processes .
In a recent project for Gough Engineering , a pharmaceutical manufacturer wanted to optimise their production line efficiency . By integrating vibratory screening equipment , the manufacturer achieved precise separation of active pharmaceutical ingredients ( APIs ), while recovering product that was
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