GÜNTNER IS USING INNOVATION TO REDUCE WATER CONSUMPTION IN ITS PRODUCTS AND AT ITS PLANTS AROUND THE WORLD
Water is the most important resource on our planet, yet increasing demand, climate change and pollution are putting pressure on global supplies. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, by 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population may face water shortages.
At Güntner, sustainability is part of our company DNA, and we use innovative technology to minimise the use of water both in the refrigeration solutions that we provide and at the plants where we manufacture them.
Water is commonly used in industrial cooling processes – it can conduct heat around 30 times faster than air – and we strive to create cooling solutions that keep consumption to a minimum. For example, Güntner’s V-shape VARIO Dry Coolers with hydroBLU™ use water only when it’s needed, leading to a reduction in consumption of up to 70% compared to comparable cooling towers. Humidification of the pads is activated and dynamically controlled by Güntner’s aicore™ fusion and aicore™ air intelligent control modules.
Güntner is also taking major steps to reduce the amount of water used in our plants and offices. On a global basis we are exploring and introducing new processes aimed at cutting consumption and introducing new technology such as leak detectors using gas or ultrasonic waves. Specific actions include the following:
AMERICA
In northern Mexico, a prolonged drought resulted in taps running dry for millions of people in the city of Monterrey, where several Güntner plants are located. The state of Nuevo Leon has now introduced several projects to ensure the water supply for its citizens and corporations, and Güntner is playing its own part by introducing new water-saving processes.
Thanks to a new water recirculation system in the leak test pools, we are saving around 46% of our previous total water consumption. We have also introduced a water recovery system throughout the production process, saving more than 3,600 cubic metres a year. We will be rolling out the system in more plants in 2023. The installation of a new monitoring system also lets us accurately measure the extraction, use and discharge of water throughout our main production facility in Mexico.
ASIA
At our plant in Surabaya, Indonesia, we are installing a new water monitoring system, together with a dedicated team looking at ways of reducing water use. We’ve also instigated a comprehensive water treatment programme for the community around the plant to combat the water and energy shortages that were affecting the local area.
EUROPE
At our plants in Tata, Hungary, and Sibiu, Romania, our advanced fin-washing machines can clean 180,000 fin pieces per week, while continuously recycling, filtering and degreasing the washing solution. Since introducing the machines in 2017, we have saved around 10,000m³ of water a year, and also cut our use of detergent by as much as 150m³ a year. We also use a new process to treat the waste water that results from our powder-coating process. We extract mud, rust and sludge, and the resulting clean water, which has a neutral pH value, is then reused in other processes.
SOUTH AMERICA
In Brazil, we’re collecting rain water for use in our processes, and reusing it three or four times before it’s discharged. Most water is used for washing fins to remove the lubricating oil needed in the production process. An electroflotation treatment separates out the oil, sediments and impurities from the water, and these are then sent for external processing by an approved supplier.