The daily work routine of WILD staff members proves that, by using energy and resources responsibly, the sum of several small adjustments can make a great difference.

For more and more customers, the environmental footprint of a product is becoming increasingly more important in addition to its functionality, innovation and longevity. For this reason, as a contract manufacturer, the WILD Group has been pursuing a comprehensive sustainability strategy for years, focusing on environmental challenges and energy-saving potentials. The Group‘s declared aim is to make a significant contribution in keeping the ecological ”backpack“ of each product as light as possible as early as during the manufacturing process.

ALL EYES ON THE ENTIRE SUPPLY CHAIN

Among the systems partner‘s main areas of focus are the generation, transformation and distribution of energy. ”By analysing the potential in all areas of our business activity, from manufacturing to disposal, we have searched for ways to save energy and contemplated on how we can minimise our negative impact on the environment“, Production Manager Mario Pföstl explains.

Companies who want to operate responsibly must adopt a very comprehensive view and have an exceptional staying power. Sustainability is not a project in which one works toward a specific end. It is a philosophy deeply embedded in the company, which measures success not only in pure figures.

”At WILD, both the products that come out of the factory and the production processes as such are very environmentally friendly. In combination with the low environmental impact, the economic savings achieved through the various environmental protection measures introduced in recent years are moderate. We introduced these improvements, however, as a matter of principle. And we do that very consistently“, stresses WILD Group CEO Josef Hackl.

50 PERCENT LESS HAZARDOUS WASTE

Nevertheless, WILD‘s comparison figures are impressive. By focusing, among things on the disposal of dangerous agents such as cooling lubricants, the company managed to reduce the share of hazardous waste by 50% in just one year. ”There will be another 20% reduction in 2020“, predicts Mario Pföstl.

Moreover, last year WILD replaced all paint booths with new ones equipped with a modern exhaust air system, which ensures that paint sludge disposal can be fully eliminated. Another conversion to a new, longer-lasting type of cooling lubricant resulted in a 75% reduction of the amount disposed.

Electricity consumption also dropped by 4% last year, despite the fact that added value increased by 4% in the same period. These savings can be attributed, among other things, to seemingly simple measures such as regular energy checks. These are carried out on weekends, during which WILD staff detect, document and discontinue any sources of energy wastage throughout the entire company. These can range from leakages in the pneumatic system to computers and systems that are not shut down properly. The largest reduction of CO² emissions at WILD so far was achieved by converting the heating system from oil to woodchipfired district heating. This clean, climate-friendly heating has been used in the company since 2018 and not only as a source of heating. ”In addition to the environmental aspect, a constant heating supply in particular is an essential factor and a mandatory quality criterion for our production process. Surface treatments such as special paints, for instance, require precise, constant processing temperatures, which district heating can guarantee throughout the year“, Josef Hackl argues.

CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT CYCLE

Significant energy indicators such as electricity and heating costs are recorded each month to identify any improvements. These digital values are always considered in relation to value creation in production. ”As a result, we find ourselves in a constant improvement cycle, in which all staff are involved. After all, many of these optimisation measures come from the company‘s ongoing suggestion-book system“, Pföstl explains.

Further optimisation measures have been planned for 2020. For instance, there will be improvements in the supply air system in mechanical manufacturing so that the waste heat from these facilities can be used to heat the production hall. In the summer, WILD will also implement an optimised Ventilation system to ensure the constant supply of fresh air.