Simple measure packs an energy-saving punch

• Simple temperature reset cuts energy consumption by 72 200 kWh per year
• No investment costs
• Generates € 6 200 savings per year

Founded in 1991, DS Smith Ducaplast is now part of the leading packaging group (DS Smith) and specialises in the production of a three-piece foldable container (FLC). The factory is located in Wormhout, Northern France, and employs 49 people.

Producing the plastic that goes into the containers is an energy-intensive job, so with the help of specialists, DS Smith Ducaplast looked into areas where savings could be made. In packaging production, it is necessary to heat the material to a certain temperature, and sometimes to cool it down rapidly to ensure product quality. At DS Smith, the process of cooling material accounted for 28 % of the site’s electricity consumption.

Temperature settings in the cooling process were conservatively low, so DS SMITH experimented with incremental increases in the plastic set point, gradually raising the temperature by 2°C, while ensuring the production quality. The performance of the cold unit has improved, with energy savings up to around 4 %.

Key results

This simple and cost-effective measure reduced energy consumption by 72 200 kWh per year and delivered net savings of € 6 200 for the plant. At the same time, the energy savings are equivalent to 3.7 tonnes less CO2 emissions per year.