Weckenmann Anlagentechnik GmbH & Co. KG partners the Blue Competence® Initiative of the VDMA

The Blue Competence Initiative of the VDMA.

The aim of the initiative is to pool the expertise of various mechanical engineering industries and to create sustainable solutions to protect the environment, in harmony with the economy, ecology and society. The various professional associations of the VDMA and other organisations of machine and plant building have committed to this purpose. Furthermore, individual companies and institutions can participate in the initiative. Blue Competence includes responsibility in a broad sense, such as for education, nature and the economic consequences of globalisation, structural change and demographic Trends.

The machine and plant builders see themselves as the driving force and engine for pioneering technologies that make many sustainability ideas possible. However, sustainable production and products are not always immediately obvious. To become a Blue Competence partner, companies must meet clearly defined sustainability criteria and standards. This way Blue Competence ensures transparency and guidance in the search for sustainable solutions, products and environmentally conscious companies. (Source: http://www.bluecompetence.net).

Please visit www.bluecompetence.net for more Information.

Environmental protection and sustainability at Weckenmann
To provide sustainable developments and solutions that are nevertheless economical is a requirement that is currently more topical than ever before in our branch of the economy. As a partner company of the Blue Competence sustainability initiative Weckenmann supports energy-efficient and resource-saving processes across the entire value chain.

So, much attention is paid to innovative manufacturing technologies with economical use of raw materials, energy and water in the equipping of machinery. The laser-cutting technology used at Weckenmann, for example, is among the most energy efficient on the market.

Weckenmann is also committed to achieve sustainability in the area of ​​building services and building management. Great importance was placed on the use of renewable energy in the construction of the new sales and technology centre at its headquarters in Dormettingen. By using geothermal energy for heating purposes and the thermal component activation (concrete core activation) to cool the premises via the concrete floors, this could be achieved in an ideal manner for the entire building, thus dispensing with the use of fossil fuels.

In addition, the offices were equipped with intelligent, energy-saving LED lighting.

Weight optimisation is an important factor in the further development of machinery. A lightweight machine requires less drive power and conserves resources in daily operations. At the same time, the machine must be robust and powerful, meeting the harsh conditions at the precast concrete plant. This is achieved through intelligent structures by creating lightweight, torsion-resistant and flexurally rigid modules with sheet metal bending parts. The designs in terms of weight and stability are optimised and further developed using simulation Software.

Process engineering also presents potential: One example is the compaction of concrete. Until now, the vibration energy was transmitted to the fresh concrete in a compacting station through vibration beams over the longitudinal beams of the pallets. In our new compacting station the vibration energy is transmitted directly to the pallet via vibratory blocks from below. The external vibrators are basically flanged directly to the pallet. With the same number of external vibrators, the centrifugal force required was reduced and less powerful vibrators are used. Power input and noise emission could be reduced.