Survey: Water Conservation is a Top Concern
Plastics Business
Results from a survey conducted by Frigel, East Dundee, Illinois, indicate water conservation is a high priority for plastics processors.
In a time of increasing global water scarcity, a survey of NPE2015 attendees conducted by Frigel, East Dundee, Illinois, shows that 64.7 percent of survey respondents rank water conservation as extremely or quite important at their plants. The survey also reveals that process cooling makes up a substantial portion of water usage at most plastic processing operations – driving the need for continued awareness about the positive impact that advanced systems have on water savings and their ability to achieve operational efficiencies.
Frigel conducted the survey to shed light on key issues that North American plastics processors have identified in the use of advanced process cooling technology. The survey, conducted via email in advance of NPE2015: The International Plastics Showcase, drew 233 responses from plastics industry professionals representing more than 200 companies.
According to Al Fosco, Frigel Global Marketing Manager, the survey results should interest companies worldwide where process cooling is vital to their operations, such as plastics, beverage and metal processing, as well as pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing.
"Frigel has been developing closed-loop process cooling technology since 1960 that is designed to help companies improve efficiencies and help achieve sustainability goals. This survey is another proof point that solutions we manufacture and market continue to address customers’ needs, yet only more so today compared to decades ago," Fosco said.
Fosco said it’s clear based on the survey that many companies look to advanced closed-loop process cooling systems to deliver pragmatic business results. According to the survey, 58.6 percent of respondents said process cooling is extremely or quite important to plant efficiencies. It’s also clear, he adds, that companies appreciate how the technology contributes to sustainability initiatives.
"The survey supports what we’ve always known, which is that many companies decide to adopt closed-loop process cooling technology for very practical business reasons. Survey respondents said they chose the technology to improve costs, increase machine uptime and produce higher quality products," he said. "Yet they also chose it to conserve water, which is in line with the growing concern over the importance of water use and the care needed to preserving it. Our goal is to continue to ensure that people understand that closed-loop process cooling systems can be part of the solution to smarter water use, in addition to plant efficiencies."
In the survey, nearly 30 percent said process cooling makes up 60 percent of overall water consumption at their operations, and an additional 21.6 percent said it makes up 40 percent. The survey results come to light in a time when water resources are stressed globally.
For more information, visit www.frigel.com.