The plastics industry is estimated to account for 4% of global power usage
That’s a lot of energy. And with energy costs on the rise worldwide, it’s a lot of money, too.
The first step to reducing energy costs is the need to understand where, when, why and how much energy you are using.
In the plastics sector, that’s most likely your motors and drives, heaters, coolers, and lighting systems.
Approximately two-thirds of the energy costs in plastics processing are the result of electric motor usage.
Yet motors are often overlooked when considering energy usage. Processing equipment motors such as compounders, granulators, moulders and extruders are obvious, but the majority of motors are ‘hidden’ in other equipment such as compressors, pumps and fans.
When the energy cost of running a motor for 1000 hours can exceed purchase cost – and when lifetime costs can be more than 100x purchase cost – failing to take action with all the motors in a factory gets expensive very quickly.
Integra in action: watch how it works in the plastics industry
Introducing Integra
Integra is our answer to each of these problems: a fixed speed motor control which can save up to 40% on motor running costs.
By converting the motor into its own load sensor, Integra ensures that the motor only uses the exact amount of energy required to complete a task. Excess energy isn’t drawn so it can’t be wasted.
Your motors will still run with optimum efficiency, and can still draw full power when required in a 50th of a second. Integra also creates a soft start and smoother acceleration for motors, reducing wear-and-tear – and the risk of penalties from utility companies.
Case Studies
Interested in reading more about how Integra has revolutionised motor usage in the Plastics industry? Browse the following case studies.