1st place from EcoScout initiative
Trainees win EcoScout initiative with innovative retrofit project
The future lies in the hands of young people – and the trainees at ZIEHL-ABEGG have impressively demonstrated this. With their pioneering “Retrofit of door air curtains” project, they not only won first place in the regional competition of the Heilbronn-Franken Chamber of Industry and Commerce’s EcoScout initiative, but also qualified for the nationwide competition in Berlin.
From idea to implementation:
A training programme with a lasting impact
The road to success began last autumn when four dedicated trainees from ZIEHL-ABEGG took part in a comprehensive training programme run by the Heilbronn-Franken Chamber of Industry and Commerce. The programme, which lasted several months, focused on important future topics such as energy efficiency, sustainability, resource management and project planning. These training courses formed the basis for the subsequent practical project, in which the participants were able to put their theoretical knowledge into practice.
The project: Retrofit of door air curtains in shipping
ZIEHL-ABEGG decided to retrofit (modernise) the fans of the air curtains in the dispatch department at the Bieringen site as a competition project. The existing systems dated back to 1995 and therefore offered considerable potential for modernisation. The aim was to reduce energy consumption by replacing the old fans and at the same time increase the efficiency of the system.
The project involved measuring important data such as energy consumption and volume flow, planning and implementing the conversion of the first systems and finally analysing the results. The results spoke for themselves: the new fans required considerably less energy while maintaining the same volume flow, which led to a significant reduction in operating costs. At the same time, they ensured a higher air exchange rate, which improved the working climate in the dispatch hall. Better insulation from the outside air also helped to save heating energy.
Result: energy savings and CO2 reduction
By converting just two doors with a total of four fans, annual savings of €576 and a reduction in CO2 emissions of 976 kg have already been achieved. These impressive figures emphasise the success of the project and show the enormous potential that lies in further implementation. ZIEHL-ABEGG plans to gradually retrofit the remaining doors and possibly transfer the concept to other locations.
Double honoured:
The trainees’ hard work and innovative thinking were rewarded at the jury meeting at the Arnold company in Dörzbach. They impressed the expert jury with their project and secured first place in the regional competition. But that’s not all: they also won the Arnold Eco Award, which is presented for particularly innovative and sustainable ideas.