Kerry Foods reports cost savings with MRO and drives service 17 July 2013

Kerry Foods says that a programme of outsourced MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) services undertaken by specialist Brammer has resulted in "immediate cost savings as well as a significant reduction in carbon emissions".

Stuart Burgess, engineering services group leader at Kerry Foods in Spalding, says: "With the help of Brammer and the newly-installed variable speed drives, we have made a big step towards hitting our [carbon emissions] targets and optimising the efficiency of our production processes."

"Our audit of the Kerry Foods facility soon established that motors powering three separate systems were constantly running at full capacity, with no means of controlling speed to match demand," explains Andy Hickin, regional key account executive for Brammer.

"After demonstrating the possible carbon savings – as well as the short payback period – achievable by providing variable speed control to these motors, an upgrade project was agreed with the customer."

The motors involved included: a 7.5kW unit, used to maintain positive air pressure in the plant; an 18.5kW motor, powering high-pressure hot water for equipment wash-downs; and a 15kW motor delivering water for hand washing at a lower pressure.

With the water motors running 24 hours a day and air pressure units running at full speed for 13.5 hours per day, combined running cost was more than £18,000 per year.

Brammer's recommendation of fitting Siemens variable speed drives to each system resulted in an annual cost saving of more than £9,000, coupled with a carbon emissions reduction of 67 tonnes per year.

The drives used allow the control of motor speed to match the flow demand within the factory, and payback for two of the motors was achieved within less than six months.

"Brammer and Siemens have a shared objective to reduce energy consumption in the workplace, which also leads to cost savings for customers," states Hickin.

"Together, the two companies have developed a training programme for Brammer personnel, giving us the knowledge of Siemens products to recommend the most effective solution for a wide variety of situations faced by customers."

Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Brammer UK
Siemens Industry Ltd

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