Sept. 2, 2021
www.teknos.dk
Teknos A/S Denmark. (Source: Teknos)


Coating manufacturer Teknos works actively to minimize the environmental footprint of its operations. In 2018, Teknos set a group-level target to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy use annually by 5% compared to production. Reducing energy consumption and improving energy efficiency at Teknos sites are important concrete actions to achieve these targets.

In 2020, Teknos’ site in Denmark reduced its energy consumption by 13% in relation to production. The Danish site is located in Vamdrup, a town of approximately 5,000 inhabitants in Jutland, Southern Denmark, and produces 23–24 million liters of water- and solvent-based liquid paints and UV lacquers and thinners per year, almost a quarter of Teknos Group’s production.

For example, Teknos AQUATOP 2600, a water borne exterior wood protection for windows and doors, is manufactured in Denmark. The site is operated on electricity, 70% of which comes from wind energy.

One of the keys behind the energy savings in Vamdrup are 20 dataloggers that were installed in the factory in spring 2019. Dataloggers are electronic devices that monitor and record parameters over time, allowing data to be measured, documented, and analyzed. In Vamdrup, the dataloggers monitor the use of electricity and natural gas for ventilation, heat pump, heating of binder tanks and compressor. The team in Denmark makes informed decisions based on this data and tests different options to find best practices.

“We began datalogging the functions that had the best reduction potential. The data enables us to improve our processes to operate more energy efficiently and detect deficiencies. We also make experiments to find new ways of doing things, and the data shows almost immediately the results of these tests,” said Brian Creutz, plant manager at the Vamdrup site in Denmark.

“We started seeing the results enabled by datalogging immediately. In 2019, we reduced energy by 4% and in 2020 by 13%. We had conducted actions to save energy already before installing the dataloggers, but we were surprised to see the additional energy savings potential. With our reductions and energy efficiency measures, we can also support our clients in achieving their own sustainability goals as they monitor the annual emissions of their suppliers,” Creutz added.

Next, the Danish site is considering investing in a new heat pump for further energy and cost savings. In other Teknos sites, similar datalogging solutions can be planned in the future. In addition, Teknos continues with existing energy efficiency initiatives in its sites, invests in energy efficient technologies in its new premises, and evaluates options to produce or purchase renewable energy. It can be estimated that by adopting the practices of the site in Denmark in all Teknos sites, Teknos could with those solutions alone reach its 5% annual energy efficiency and reduction target or possibly even exceed it.