HWI Machining preserves machinery

“Especially in our sector, big steps can be made,” says Ton Wolvers, managing director HWI Group. “Thanks to our new LED lighting, we save 50,000 kWh a year. And the biggest news: this week we installed 540 solar panels from which we generate around 150,000 kWh.” To give you an idea: 58 Dutch families can live off that energy for a year!

More sustainable, more efficient, cheaper

The choice of LED lighting was quickly made. “Generating more light with less power is not only better for the environment but also more efficient and cheaper,” explains Ton Wolvers. “In addition, we also get more and more questions about sustainability from the market. More and more regulations are also coming from the government. We would like to be ahead of that!”

No fewer than 540 solar panels were added to the roof there last week

So 126 Trilux Led luminaires were installed at the company last autumn. These consume about 35,000 kWh a year, where the 392 fluorescent tubes did total 85,000 kWh. To that was added no less than 540 solar panels on the roof last week, which will generate a quarter to a third of the total consumption of the machinery: some 150,000 kWh!

These are the first steps

“Our operations require a lot of energy: from machining to the energy consumption of all the machines to the waste products,” Wolvers explains. “But that also means that at HWI can also make a big difference. With such a large roof, we can also really generate something. So these are only the first steps.”

That also means that we at HWI can also make a big difference.

Eventually, HWI wants to go for sustainable certification, the director explains. “All our processes are now strictly defined according to protocols. In the coming years, these protocols will become increasingly sustainable. For example, think about how we deal with waste materials or lighting and energy saving in general.”