At a ceremony on 23 October at Mercure Holland House Hotel in Cardiff (organized by UK-based business publisher Insider Media Ltd), plasma etch, deposition and thermal wafer processing equipment maker SPTS Technologies Ltd of Newport, Wales, UK was presented with the top prize in the ‘Green Manufacturer’ category at the Made in Wales Awards.
The award recognizes how SPTS has implemented a number of green initiatives to ensure that the firm uses resources efficiently, reduces waste, and minimizes the effects of its operations on the environment. Additional environmental benefits extend globally to the environmentally friendly products made using the energy-saving semiconductor and microelectronic devices produced using SPTS equipment, e.g. power management chips, LED lights, and micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) that can reduce energy used or even harvest energy from external vibrations.
“It is a testament of the commitment by the management team and our employees to significantly reduce our carbon footprint,” comments SPTS’ VP of operations Mike Hewlett. “We have made significant investment in our building management system and installed energy-efficient gas boilers which have reduced the company’s gas consumption by 67% compared to pre-2012 levels,” he adds. “We have also achieved significant reductions in the electricity and water used at our factory in Newport and benefited from resultant cost savings.”
SPTS encourages its employees to recycle as much waste as possible and has been able to reduce non-recyclable waste year-on-year. The firm also participates in the UK Government’s Cyclescheme, which allows employees to purchase a bicycle tax-free. Electric car charging points have also been installed for the use of both employees and customers.
