An in-demand service: Our energy and sustainability consultants support and advise customers right across the world on their sustainable transformation.
Where can I save even more resources in my production? How do I transition to a green power supply? What sustainability targets are realistic for my business – and what do I need to achieve them? Questions such as these are now occupying many of our customers. For expert answers, they can turn to Krones. Or, to be more precise, the Sustainable Customer Solutions team.
Focusing on individual customer goals
What the individual consulting projects actually include depends on the customer’s individual objectives. These range from optimising energy and resources at line level to multi-stage transformation concepts aimed at reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of whole factories to net zero. What all projects have in common is that the advice is given objectively, independently and with the aim to achieving the best possible outcome for the customer – from both an ecological perspective and an economic point of view. “Even for those customers who have set themselves ambitious sustainability targets out of intrinsic motivation, ultimately everything has to make financial sense as well,” Michael Russ, Head of Sustainable Customer Solutions. emphasises. “That’s why our focus is always on reducing running costs as well.”
Every project, whether in new or existing factories, starts with the goals as envisaged by the customer and an assessment of the actual condition, i.e. an analysis of the relevant processes, production machinery, supply systems and ambient conditions. In many businesses some of the necessary pool of data already exists, while in others it must be collected first – and the consultants do that too.
First principle: avoid!
As soon as all the relevant data is available, work begins on drafting a feasibility study which can then serve in turn as the basis for a multi-stage concept plan. This follows the principle of “avoid, optimise, recycle”. Whether it’s electricity, water, heat, refrigeration, compressed air, wastewater or waste, reducing consumption in the first place always takes priority. Only once this potential has been exhausted does the focus shift to optimising the generation or procurement of the remaining demand – such as by generating energy in-house from renewable sources – and closing resource loops. The individual measures are prioritised according to their cost/benefit ratio. “It goes without saying that we look first at the quick wins that would allow us to achieve tangible effects quickly with relatively little effort,” explains Michael Russ.
The handover of the concept plan marks a critical milestone. If customers ask, the Krones consultants will support and advise them through the subsequent steps as well: In addition to implementation of the measures, this may also entail preparing functional tendering documents for distribution to suppliers, applying for public subsidies and reviewing and – where necessary – optimising the implemented measures in ongoing operation.
Would you like to learn more? Our sustainability and energy consultants will be in Munich throughout the entire drinktec week and look forward to answering your questions.
