Feature

Compressed air & vacuum system makeover generates energy savings

Atlas Copco’s compressed air and vacuum systems upgrade for brick maker Wienerberger Ltd is resulting in significant savings in energy costs, estimated to be around £38K per annum, along with reduced CO2 emissions and production downtime – plus, the added benefit of a short-term payback.

01/05/2020 15:35:39

The existing compressor system upgrade project at the Windmill Lane factory was triggered by episodes of unreliability. This meant choosing between carrying out costly motor rewinds or taking the longer view and replacing the compressors with alternatives – offering higher efficiency and dependable performance.

The compressor installation’s primary function in brick production was a 7-bar air supply to pneumatic cylinders – powering the clutches of the mixers blending essential additives with the basic ground and milled clay processing operation, and those of the extruders. This, together with the final sandblast treatment, determined the quality, performance and appearance of the finished products.

There were similar performance and efficiency issues with the vacuum pump system employed to remove air from the brick material before extrusion, forming and kiln firing. The operation was intermittent because of problems running cooling water through the pumps, whose design offered only limited opportunity for corrective maintenance.

To rectify these problem areas of his manufacturing processes, Miles Coppinger, Wienerberger’s Director of Production North, called on the services of Atlas Copco.

Read the full article in the May issue of DPA

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.