A survey of plastics processing energy consumption in Europe reports that 60 per cent of responding companies fear for the future of the European plastics processing industry unless significant short term action is taken on energy issues and costs. Over half of the companies responding to the survey operate plants on a 24 hour, five day week basis, with an average machine utilization rate of 75 per cent. The average site-specific energy consumption was found to be 2.87kW/kg/hour and the average cost of energy across Europe was calculated to be 0.08 €/kWhour.
The survey of 165 European plastics processors was undertaken by RECIPE - the newly formed Reduced Energy Consumption in Plastics Engineering, established by research and opportunities identified by the Faraday Plastics and Polymers Partnership. The main respondents, covering a total of eight plastics processes, were from Germany, the UK and Spain.
RECIPE project co-ordinator Suzanne Wilkinson says: "We now have enough information to set sectoral benchmarks for specific energy consumption across Europe. The general attitudes to the energy issue in plastics processing are positive - over 50 per cent, for example, urge adherence to the Kyoto protocol - but it is also clear that the sector wants more done. Most of the industry believes this issue to be urgent and in need of immediate attention."
She urges all European plastics processors to get involved with their energy management and in the work of the RECIPE project. "Visit our site - from there, companies can download the new report, as well as fill in the questionnaire to benchmark their own performance."
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