Automation company publishes industry energy efficiency report

European Automation's report analyses two industry standards that will continue to impact UK manufacturing in 2015: the European Union's Ecodesign directive and the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS). The study also explores ways in which industrial automation is helping manufacturers adapt to increasingly demanding environmental standards.

Darren Halford, group sales manager at European Automation explains: "2015 will be the year of energy efficiency. Regardless of where they are located or what industry they operate in, manufacturers have to comply with rigorous environmental demands regarding product design, energy management and reducing carbon footprint.

"Luckily, industrial automation can offer an impressive range of solutions for higher productivity and energy savings, without costing the earth. We think it always makes sense to look at energy efficiency through the lens of automation."

In 2009, the European Union revised its Ecodesign Directive, ensuring designers of energy-using products reduce the energy consumption and environmental impact of these products. The directive affects manufacturing and engineering companies in a variety of ways, in every department from product design to logistics.

Its impact can be felt everywhere, from lighting to the equipment used on a production line. For example, starting 1 January 2015, IE3 (Premium Efficiency) is a mandatory requirement for all motors between 7.5k and 375kW. The only exception is the use of IE2 motors fitted with a variable speed drive (VSD).

Next year will also bring changes in the way large UK companies account for their energy usage. Organisations that employ at least 250 people or have annual turnovers in excess of EUR50 million will have to submit the first confirmation of ESOS compliance to the Environmental Agency before 5 December 2015.

This is the second industry report European Automation has produced in the last few months, with a number of others planned for 2015. The reports still to come will focus on collapsing automation architecture, machine-to-machine communication and information security. All the industry reports will be available for download on European Automation's website, www.euautomation.com/en/automated.