Water consumption cut by half
When companies in the Australian region of Southeast Queensland were hit by severe water-rationing requirements, Trelleborg in Brisbane was well prepared.
In 2006, drought conditions were officially proclaimed in the Australian region of Southeast Queensland. Requirements imposed on water rationing were severe, but Trelleborg Queensland Rubber Pty Ltd in Brisbane was well prepared. Since 2002, the company has been engaged in the government-backed “Greenhouse Challenge” program.
“When we reduced our emissions of greenhouse gases by 56 percent, we moved forward and focused our efforts on water consumption,” says the company’s President Bruce Cage. During the severe drought period, all companies in the region were forced to reduce their water consumption by 25 percent compared with the reference consumption from 2004, but Trelleborg had already reduced consumption by 45 percent.
“We focused on areas that were essentially quite obvious,” says Bruce Cage. “The work involved such measures as the modernization of our pipe system to eliminate leaks, and the insulation of steam pipes to save energy and reduce the formation of condensation.
” Bruce Cage and his colleagues came to the conclusion that the cooling water to the production molds could be fed to the cooling circuit sump and be used as replacement water, instead of being discharged directly into the wastewater system. The leaking, water-based hydraulic system that operated many presses was replaced and all sumps were inspected to ensure that they were watertight. The company has now initiated a new program to further reduce water consumption. It is expected to be fully implemented by October 2007.