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How Made Smarter manufacturers are using technology to save pounds and the planet
Published:  21 April, 2021

Businesses working with the technology adoption programme are investing in new machinery and digital tools to make their buildings, equipment, manufacturing and transport processes more efficient, use less energy, and produce less waste. Earth Day, the international day for climate and environmental awareness, is  Thursday April 22.

Additionally, some manufacturers are supplementing this with measures like switching to LED lighting in their factories to slash electricity bills; and investing in renewable energy sources and biomass boilers to power their plants.

As a result, manufacturers are reducing costs, boosting profit margins, and increasing competitiveness, helping them navigate the impact of the Covid-19 crisis, and paving a path to recovery and growth with a new resilience.

The 187 technology projects supported by Made Smarter are forecast to deliver an additional £147.8M in gross value added (GVA) for the North West economy over the next three years.

The drive towards a more sustainable approach to manufacturing is reducing the businesses' carbon footprint and impact on the environment, helping the UK achieve its ambitious net zero target by 2050.

Donna Edwards, North West Adoption programme director at Made Smarter, said: “Climate change can no longer be ignored. The manufacturing industry, together with the transport and storage industries, produce 15% of the UK's greenhouse gases.

“Manufacturers are facing pressure to become more sustainable from their own employees, customers, the government, investors, and wider communities.

“Technology has played an incredibly important part in enabling businesses to navigate the pandemic and recover. There is no doubt that digital tools are also key to addressing the challenge of decarbonisation and help the UK achieve its net-zero aim.

“Digitalisation offers a huge opportunity for manufacturers to deliver operational efficiencies, decarbonise heat and power, optimise design and materials, and improve logistics and transport, benefitting their business, their bottom line and the environment.

“It is encouraging that so many Made Smarter supported manufacturers have started this journey and found the sustainability sweet spot between these economic, social, and environmental goals.”

Bloom-in-Box, an eco-friendly plastics manufacturer based in Burscough, is using robotics and process control technology to increase productivity by at least 25% and improve quality control, reliability and repeatability when moulding components, reducing the number of rejects and waste.

David Reardon, director, said: “We believe that investing in the next generation of moulding machines will develop a more digitalised manufacturing environment aimed at improving efficiency, expanding production capacity, and generating more revenue. This will allow us to expand and invest in new ideas, create jobs and develop more environmentally friendly products.

“Made Smarter has accelerated our ambitions by years. Its support has really driven forward our plans to design and manufacture plastic products with more than just one life.”

Bloom wants to move towards carbon neutrality with a focus on its machinery and investing in renewables like solar panels.

“We have always invested in electric moulding machines because they use up to 80% less power compared with counterparts,” David added. “Software managing drives and motors in the new machine will reduce energy use by up to 20%. This is a huge saving in both CO2 and the energy bill.”

As well as offering free, impartial expert advice, Made Smarter has produced a free guide to help SME manufacturers take their first steps in reducing carbon emissions and become more sustainable.

Download it here: www.madesmarter.uk/media/wrqfswjh/made-smarter-guide-reducing-carbon-emissions-through-technology.pdf

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