Festo Opens Exhibition on Experience Energy Efficiency

For Festo, energy efficiency is not just a short-lived topic of popular discussion, but a significant competitive factor: for many years, the company has been actively promoting all-round energy efficiency – as is demonstrated by the recently opened exhibition, various research projects on this topic and the Technology Plant that is now coming into being in Scharnhausen.

“As a family enterprise with a long-term perspective, we have already been living out energy efficiency for many years – both within our company and together with our customers,” said Dr. Eberhard Veit, Chairman of the Management Board of Festo AG & Co. KG. “For us, energy efficiency is a competitive factor and must be consistently established on an interdisciplinary basis as a fundamental requirement for the development process.”

Focus on the entire value-added chain
In keeping with this strategy, Festo focuses on the entire value-added chain in terms of energy efficiency – from engineering, via energy-efficient products, up to the efficient design of systems and the energy-saving operation of machinery and equipment – in other words “green” production. This is also demonstrated by the new exhibition “Experience Energy Efficiency” at corporate headquarters in Esslingen-Berkheim, which makes the topic of energy efficiency directly experienceable with videos, interactive exhibits and exhibition modules that demonstrate the company’s own products to customers and other interested parties. The focus is on a four-step approach that encompasses the interplay of intelligent systems design, energy-efficient products and solutions, sustainable services and a sound vocational training.

Engineering strategy for the design of production facilities
The engineering strategy demonstrates how production facilities can be designed with a view to energy efficiency. With an electromechanical spindle axis and a pneumatic linear drive, a design object at the first station of the exhibition provides insights into the technical complexity. The significance of total cost of ownership (TCO) is shown on the basis of acquisition and energy costs for three different handling systems over an operating period of several years with different cycle times. The visitor can set the desired payback period for a pneumatic, an electrical and a combined handling system and ascertain which of these represents the most economical solution for his or her specific requirements.

Energy-efficient automation
In the second part of the “Experience Energy Efficiency” exhibition, Festo demonstrates how automation functions can be made energy-efficient with the company’s products and systems solutions. At the centre of attention is a pencil-sharpening unit that informs the visitor by means of animated pictures of the twelve measures realised and the attainable economisation potential. Decentralised valve terminals located close to the drive units, for example, show how compressed air can be used in a more energy-efficient manner with the use of shorter tube lengths.

Services and further education
In the third part of the exhibition, the visitor learns how existing pneumatic units and systems can be sustainably improved with the Festo Energy Saving Services. The model of a compressor block lucidly demonstrates the operation of a screw compressor. Pulsating light-emitting diodes (LEDs) simulate the compressed air, current and heat. The fourth module from Festo Didactic is concerned with the connection between the acquisition of theoretical knowledge and its practical application. Here, visitors can see how control commands influence energy efficiency in an industrial unit.

Taking an integral view
On completion of the tour, one thing is clear: energy efficiency issues can only be resolved by means of an all-encompassing strategy. “Festo can provide this comprehensive overview very well, since we offer not only the hardware but also consultancy, engineering, measuring services and training,” explains Dr. Nico Pastewski, Innovation and Technology Manager at Festo. Close cooperation with partners, especially with customers and suppliers, is decisive for long-term success with regard to energy efficiency in automation technology. Festo is thus engaging in an exchange of experience with leading research institutes and other enterprises. Together with partners from nine European countries, Festo is active for example in the EU research programme EMC2-Factory, which sets out to improve energy efficiency above all in energy-intensive production processes in the automotive, rail and aerospace industries.

Customers are involved in the process
Festo sets store by sustainable networks not only in research projects: in an exemplary pilot project, the company together with the customer at the Hettich group, a manufacturer of functional furniture fittings, succeeded in reducing the energy consumption of a pilot production plant by 30 percent by means of optimised pneumatics. This concept is now being implemented step by step at the customer’s facilities.

The Scharnhausen Technology Plant
Festo is going even a step further in the new Scharnhausen Technology Plant, which is being given an energy management system in accordance with DIN EN ISO 50001. This is a high aspiration, since Scharnhausen is to acquire an exemplary status as the most energy-efficient factory within the Festo production network. This is a further example of how Festo is establishing energy efficiency as an issue of interdisciplinary significance throughout the enterprise.

“As a family enterprise with a long-term perspective, we have already been living out energy efficiency for many years – both within our company and together with our customers,” said Dr. Eberhard Veit, Chairman of the Management Board of Festo AG & Co. KG. “For us, energy efficiency is a competitive factor and must be consistently established on an interdisciplinary basis as a fundamental requirement for the development process.”

Focus on the entire value-added chain
In keeping with this strategy, Festo focuses on the entire value-added chain in terms of energy efficiency – from engineering, via energy-efficient products, up to the efficient design of systems and the energy-saving operation of machinery and equipment – in other words “green” production. This is also demonstrated by the new exhibition “Experience Energy Efficiency” at corporate headquarters in Esslingen-Berkheim, which makes the topic of energy efficiency directly experienceable with videos, interactive exhibits and exhibition modules that demonstrate the company’s own products to customers and other interested parties. The focus is on a four-step approach that encompasses the interplay of intelligent systems design, energy-efficient products and solutions, sustainable services and a sound vocational training.

Engineering strategy for the design of production facilities
The engineering strategy demonstrates how production facilities can be designed with a view to energy efficiency. With an electromechanical spindle axis and a pneumatic linear drive, a design object at the first station of the exhibition provides insights into the technical complexity. The significance of total cost of ownership (TCO) is shown on the basis of acquisition and energy costs for three different handling systems over an operating period of several years with different cycle times. The visitor can set the desired payback period for a pneumatic, an electrical and a combined handling system and ascertain which of these represents the most economical solution for his or her specific requirements.

Energy-efficient automation
In the second part of the “Experience Energy Efficiency” exhibition, Festo demonstrates how automation functions can be made energy-efficient with the company’s products and systems solutions. At the centre of attention is a pencil-sharpening unit that informs the visitor by means of animated pictures of the twelve measures realised and the attainable economisation potential. Decentralised valve terminals located close to the drive units, for example, show how compressed air can be used in a more energy-efficient manner with the use of shorter tube lengths.

Services and further education
In the third part of the exhibition, the visitor learns how existing pneumatic units and systems can be sustainably improved with the Festo Energy Saving Services. The model of a compressor block lucidly demonstrates the operation of a screw compressor. Pulsating light-emitting diodes (LEDs) simulate the compressed air, current and heat. The fourth module from Festo Didactic is concerned with the connection between the acquisition of theoretical knowledge and its practical application. Here, visitors can see how control commands influence energy efficiency in an industrial unit.

Taking an integral view
On completion of the tour, one thing is clear: energy efficiency issues can only be resolved by means of an all-encompassing strategy. “Festo can provide this comprehensive overview very well, since we offer not only the hardware but also consultancy, engineering, measuring services and training,” explains Dr. Nico Pastewski, Innovation and Technology Manager at Festo. Close cooperation with partners, especially with customers and suppliers, is decisive for long-term success with regard to energy efficiency in automation technology. Festo is thus engaging in an exchange of experience with leading research institutes and other enterprises. Together with partners from nine European countries, Festo is active for example in the EU research programme EMC2-Factory, which sets out to improve energy efficiency above all in energy-intensive production processes in the automotive, rail and aerospace industries.

Customers are involved in the process
Festo sets store by sustainable networks not only in research projects: in an exemplary pilot project, the company together with the customer at the Hettich group, a manufacturer of functional furniture fittings, succeeded in reducing the energy consumption of a pilot production plant by 30 percent by means of optimised pneumatics. This concept is now being implemented step by step at the customer’s facilities.

The Scharnhausen Technology Plant
Festo is going even a step further in the new Scharnhausen Technology Plant, which is being given an energy management system in accordance with DIN EN ISO 50001. This is a high aspiration, since Scharnhausen is to acquire an exemplary status as the most energy-efficient factory within the Festo production network. This is a further example of how Festo is establishing energy efficiency as an issue of interdisciplinary significance throughout the enterprise.