The European Machine Tool industry, represented by CECIMO, launches a European initiative on sustainability: the Blue Competence Machine Tools initiative. The machine tool industry is the first mechanical engineering sector to embark on a broad-based campaign on sustainability at European level.
Machine tool builders which participate in the Blue Competence Machine Tools initiative commit themselves to optimize the use of energy and other resources to enable faster, better and higher quality manufacturing in end-user industries. It is also a marketing tool for companies embracing its principles.
Sustainability as motto Martin Kapp, President of CECIMO, states: “This landmark initiative underlines the willingness of European machine tool builders to make a leap forward towards a better and greener manufacturing perspective. Production technology and equipment supplied by the machine tool industry is the key enabler of resource efficient processes in all other manufacturing industries. Now, our manufacturers are taking on a firm commitment to align, in a holistic approach, their products, processes and business models with sustainability principles.”
Greener with blue competence Manufacturers which start operating under the principles of the Blue Competence Machine Tools initiative agree to meet pre-determined ecological, economic and social values and principles, while implementing sustainable production solutions in their production plants, products and business services with the aim of achieving greener manufacturing. The initiative keeps in line with EU policy developments and priorities.
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What does it change for users? CECIMO expects the initiative to profoundly influence business and manufacturing practices in the sector; to stimulate technical innovation; and to raise awareness about the role of manufacturing in driving sustainability. For users of machine tools from companies working with Blue competence in mind, that means working with machines that are always precise and productive but that also need less energy and are then better “environmental friendly”. In a recent analyse, a machine tool manufacturer presented that with a few measures its new machines consummates 39% less energy… and that’s only the start!
2 machines out of 5 produce “for free” In the example here above, the producer achieved great results that is indeed environmental friendly but also economically very interesting for users. Engineers worked on:
- Energetic optimization through the programming software
- Synchronous motors and recuperation of the braking energy
- Intelligent pumps
- Size reduction of moving parts
More and more companies will use that kind of argument as marketing tools and indeed as usual the first to communicate largely on that will reach a good place into customer’s mind in term of sustainability.
I’ll come back on that topic soon, stay tuned!
Pierre-Yves Kohler
