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With the growing manufacturing industry, machine tools market is foreseen to move forward. This year, the global machine tools market size is anticipated to rise by US$87.30 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4%, and reach US$105.96 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 5%, according to The Business Research Company.
However, the manufacturing industry must start embracing low-carbon development and resilience at the core of their business strategies, promote green policies and initiatives, strengthen support for climate action and disaster risk reduction to ensure a safe, healthy environment not only now but for generations to come.
When the topic of green manufacturing comes up, energy-efficient machine tools are one of the areas to be considered.
Incorporating green, or environmentally friendly, fluids and fluid management systems can extend fluid life and minimize waste, providing valuable cost savings. Metal forming, stamping, and washing fluids now are considered an important part of the production process, as important as tool life or health and safety issues because they impact all areas of the operation.
Machine tools are complex, power-driven industrial devices. They encompass an array of tools and their accessories for cutting and forming metal. Machine tools, such as presses, obviously use different forms of energy, including electrical, hydraulic, and compressed air. Energy is consumed in the cooling and lubrication systems as well.
Therefore, the energy demand of a machine tool is a key consideration for investment, but it does not stand alone. The performance of a machine tool is multidimensional, comprising its economic value, technical specifications, and operating requirements, which are influenced by the specific application. That explains why calculating the ecological footprint for these products can be challenging.
Some examples of the current and consistent innovations that are taking place in the manufacture of machine tools are as follows:
CO2-neutral
Since 2021, DMG MORI manufactures all machines completely climate-neutral– from raw materials to delivery. The company’s manufacturing solutions also provide the highest energy efficiency at the customers’ premises. In addition, its machines play a key role in the production of green technologies.
For many years, DMG MORI has been optimizing the energy and emission efficiency of its machines through specific CELOS apps, consumption-optimized components such as LED lighting, the recuperation of braking energy and intelligent control of all units. DMG MORI products also protect the environment and conserves resources during operation at the customer's premises.
Sustainable investment
Chin Fong Machine emphasizes on the concept of “ESG” corporate sustainable investment and energy-saving and environmental protection design. The company’s servo presses are equipped with an energy storage device that effectively converts the kinetic energy consumed by the brake deceleration into electrical energy for use in the re-stamping stroke, achieving effective energy consumption reduction, energy savings, and carbon reduction. Chin Fong also employs speed reduction mechanism for high-efficiency output, moving towards green product.
Green milestone
With its latest sustainability strategy, the CHIRON Group is playing its part in ensuring that their manufacturing and production processes are environmentally conscious and ultimately climate-neutral. The company will expand its existing capacity for machine refurbishments and will use additive manufacturing to broaden its range of applications in the automated repair of forging dies. There are many options for increasing efficiency and extending the lifecycle of a CHIRON or STAMA machining center. Regardless of the feasibility of a given renewal measure, the processes covered by the “Refurbishment” expertise are always a more sustainable alternative to purchasing a new machine. A complete machine refurbishment, for example, provides average savings of 40-50% of the total material required for a new machine.
The AM Cube 3D metal printer is the only product in the range that does not remove material but instead stacks it up using laser metal deposition (LMD), with powder, wire or both in combination. Additive manufacturing for coatings, repairs and 3D printing is still a recent technology for the CHIRON Group. That said, the technology has matured further with experience and the range of applications has broadened, e.g., to include repairing forged cutting rings.
Recycling of waste
To ensure their contribution to reducing climate change and negative environmental impact, Seco Tools launched the Green Investment Fund. Since then, the Green Fund has supported the investment of a diversity of sustainable projects which have reduced the environmental impact of the company’s operations.
Another way for Seco to reduce their company’s climate impact is taking advantage of the waste heat from their production processes. The Green Fund has supported sustainability projects which increase the heat recovery systems and therefore promote circularity. At their head office site in Fagersta, the heat recovery system was expanded through air compressors to supply heating to the site and expected district heating which no longer needed to be purchased. The site’s footprint, measured in CO2 emissions, is estimated to drop by 28%.
In conclusion, manufacturing is an energy-intensive activity. Reducing the amount of energy machine tool use is one way for a parts manufacturer to increase its competitiveness or even to just remain an ongoing concern, while greening its operations.
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