In the new consumer packaging plant that DS Smith is currently building in Erlensee (close to Frankfurt), the first machines are currently being installed, one after the other.
One of them is the new machine for the creation of compressed air for production machines.
With this new solution DS Smith is backing the principle of cogeneration and is therefore making a major contribution towards significantly reducing CO² emissions in this are and therefore easing the stress on the environment. This environmentally friendly technology was presented to a wider audience at the ‘Woche der Umwelt’ (Environment Week) that look place Berlin in June.
"According to the previous state of the art, only around 10 per cent of energy used could be converted into compressed air," explains Peter Otto, CEO of Postberg + Co. The efficiency specialists at Energiewerkstatt and Postberg + Co. have taken on this topic and developed an innovative, environmentally friendly solution that touches upon the principle of cogeneration. The new machine uses a gas-powered combustion engine - the machine is highly efficient thanks to the parallel use of the waste heat produced in compressed air production. With the new system the CO² emissions can be reduced by up to 65 per cent compared to electrical compressors. In the new DS Smith plant in Erlensee one of the first machines in the world is being used, operated by Städtische Werke AG, Kassel. This allows an annual reduction of approx. 86,000 kg CO² to be achieved. "Around 8,600 grown trees would be required in order to compensate for 86 tonnes of CO² per year," explains Peter Otto. DS Smith is already planning the use of a second plant of this kind, in which the positive effect will be doubled.
The new technology was presented at this year's ‘Woche der Umwelt’ upon the invitation of German Federal President Joachim Gauck at Schlossgarten Bellevue. For this, together with DS Smith, Postberg + Co. developed an energy efficiency campaign to take part in: With the motto "achieving higher yields with compressed air efficiency" the visitors could find hidden potential on a three-metre-tall apple tree made from corrugated cardboard that represents the great savings potential of compressed air applications and position them on the tree with post its.
Efficient actions are deeply embedded in every area of our corporate culture. Our slogan, "The Power of Less", summarises our thinking: for example, we work on creating less waste and increasing our recycling share, reducing the complexity of processes and achieving greater efficiency.— Ulrich Metzger, DS Smith Consumer Packaging & Display Director.
Ulrich Metzger, Director of Consumer Packaging & Display at DS Smith had this to say: "The new highly efficient system by Postberg, which we will use for the generation of compressed air for the production machines, is therefore completely right for us. That's why it was important to us to support Postberg + Co. in the campaign for greater efficiency."
