Study RWTH Aachen | Resource conservation at Heineken
"Responsibility". This year's main theme of Anuga FoodTec clearly focusses on the economical use of resources in production for both manufacturers and suppliers.
A study carried out by RWTH Aachen University and igus now shows how Heineken Brazilsaves costs and CO2equivalents by switching to lubrication- and maintenance-free bearing technology made of high-performance polymers.
Conserving resources: how Heineken can save 28 tonnes of CO2 per year with polymer bearings.
The study
For the first time, a study by RWTH Aachen and igus shows the costs that can be saved in applications if lubrication-free polymer bearings from igus are used instead of conventional metal bearings.
The study focusses on various customer applications in nine companies from the automation technology, construction machinery, agricultural, food, packaging and bottling industries. The brewery group Heineken is taking part with their Brazilian subsidiary. Based on interviews with experts in the companies, statements were collected on the use of lubricants and personnel costs, for example. The study also calculates the environmental effect for the first time.
The results | Savings at Heineken Brasil and worldwide
One of the customer applications analysed concerns the transport technology at the Brazilian branch of the Heineken brewery group. The focus was on 600 bearing points in the conveyor belts. Metal bearings were replaced with polymer ones, which means that they can now operate without external lubricants thanks. The researchers calculated savings of 180kg of CO2 equivalents per year.
If all 160 Heineken branches were to switch to polymer bearings, the company could not only save 28,814kg of CO2 equivalents per year. They would also save a projected amount of 20 tonnes of lubricant per year equalling €450,478 and €5.4 million in personnel costs.
More about the study and new products at Anuga FoodTec
We will be presenting further details on the new study in addition to our new products on the topics of resource conservation, circular economy, product safety and digital technologies at this year's Anuga FoodTec.
We look forward to your visit: 19th to 23rd March |Hall 8.1, Stand D080.
These products help you switch to lubrication-free technology.
Addition to the pillow block range
New Plastic bearing housing for maintenance-free spherical insert bearings. Housing for two- and four-hole flange mounted bearings and pillow block bearing housing.
The chainflex guarantee is now extended by 12 months to four years. The clear statements on the guaranteed service life give the customer additional planning safety.
Circular economy: The "chainge" platform - recycling made easy
We collect old energy chains. When it reaches the end of its service life, you can therefore simply return your energy chain to us, even if it comes from another manufacturer. Our chainge recycling program makes this possible. The old material is sorted by type, cleaned and reconditioned to new quality in a single process. At the same time, we have created a platform where customers and suppliers of recyclates can come together.
Product safety/hygiene: Machine design in accordance with FDA and EU10/2011 requirements.
FDA, EU 10/2011, 3-A. A lot of standards regulate the materials used in hygiene-sensitive environments. With a wide range of products specifically for the food and beverage industry, we aim to offer the right product for every requirement. To simplify matters, we have summarised all product categories and the most important information on our material approvals on one page.
With the "blue" sample box, we provide an overview of our food-compliant products. It includes our hygienic-design energy chain, plain bearings, ball bearings, pillow block bearings and more in hygienic design.
Digital technologies: knowing product life cycles, predicting failures, avoiding costs.
With the i.Sense continuous condition monitoring, you can keep an eye on your systems at all times. i.Cee enables you to connect your production plant to the Internet of Things (IoT) or your local network and gives you the option of carrying out predictive maintenance. With smart plastics - energy chain systems, chainflex cables, linear guides and plain bearings equipped with smart sensor technology - we want to make complex automation solutions as compatible with Industry 4.0 as possible.
We will visit you with our mobile pop-up trade show stand. And we will bring the products that would work with your application so that you can see them up close.