Heller present energy saving solutions for machine tools

Heller Machine Tools are one of a group of 15 German companies that presented solutions, aimed at enhancing the energy efficiency of machine tools, at a Symposium held during the recent METAV 2010 exhibition.

Under the motto "Blue Competence – Taking the initiative on energy and environment", the project is a reaction to the EuP Directive (2009/125/EG) established by the European Commission.

Heller already adhere to environmental and high efficiency principles with machine containing numerous innovations, designed to optimise the energy consumption of the machine's components.

These features include individual regulation of chip conveyors and efficient pressure regulation throughout a machine's coolant unit running time. High energy consumers such as electric motors are adjusted to the machine requirements, consumption is also minimised by the use of drive modules with lower power ratings.

For the user, these economical advantages translate directly into reductions in their overall costs, while maintaining a consistently high level of productivity, quality and machine reliability.

As an example, energy savings of up to six per cent can be achieved simply by reducing a machine's warm-up phase. Heller also provide significant savings potential, through their standby strategies, such as, spindle deactivation and the recognition of non-operation, resulting in an automatic machine switch-off.

According to Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Verl, director of the Institute at Fraunhofer IPA (Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation) and ISW (Institute for Control Engineering of Machine Tools and Manufacturing Units), the energy costs of a machine tool amount to approximately 20 per cent of its costs over the machine's complete life cycle. It is thought that up to 30 per cent of these costs could be saved, and by the use of needs-oriented project-planning and optimised machining processes, the potential for savings should be even higher.

Author
Michael Richards

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