All the machinery in use at Starbank are fitted with an extraction system, which is used to remove the dust particles created during production. The new extraction system has three major benefits than the previous system. Firstly it collects all the waste product into one area, (where previously the system was split into two).
The second major benefit to this new system is that the extraction is only operational when the machine is in use and automatically switches off when the machines are idle. This greatly reduces our energy consumption, without effecting other machinery that may still be in use.
The final benefit was only apparent once installed. Due to the system only being operational when it is needed, noise levels on the factory floor have been dramatically reduced, considerably improving the working conditions for our factory workers.
This newly installed extraction system is the first phase of a two phase project that we are hoping to invest in, allowing Starbank to comply with the government’s new, Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme.
The second phase would involve Starbank replacing its current wood-burner with a biomass boiler, to utilise the 1000 tonnes of wood waste we currently produce. The biomass boiler would recycle the energy generated from burning the waste materials to heat the premises: including all the factory and office spaces.
The overall investment in both phases would ensure Starbank:
- Recycled a larger volume of waste materials
- Reduced its full usage/ CO² emissions and particulate emissions
- Comply with the government’s RHI scheme guidelines
- Reduced production downtime, due to the self cleaning system incorporated in the biomass boiler
- Keeps competitive within the market, as savings can be passed to our customers.