Isola, based in Notodden in the south of Norway, offers environmentally friendly products for the construction industry. The company manufactures insulation materials, roofing membranes, wind protection and sealing products. As the construction sector is responsible for around 40% of all CO2 emissions worldwide, there is great incentive to reduce harmful emissions with such building materials. However, efficient production is also an important lever in counteracting climate change.
· Vacuum supply harbours potential for savings. At Isola the focus is on environmentally friendly production: For this goal, energy efficiency is an important factor that is prioritized in day-to-day production – for example in the vacuum supply. The Norwegians need a sustainable central vacuum system for processes such as extrusion, thermoforming, and injection molding. «And by choosing the right vacuum pumps, considerable savings potential can be realized in these processes,» emphasizes Ulf Strand, Factory Manager at Isola.
· Conversion to speed-controlled screw vacuum pumps. Until recently two roots vacuum pumps formed the centerpiece of these rough vacuum applications. «However, the disadvantage of these roots pumps was their high energy consumption – up to 90% of the energy used was lost via the waste heat from the motor,» reports Ulf Strand. This was reason enough for Isola to adapt the production process and switch the vacuum supply to two oil-sealed, speed-controlled screw vacuum pumps instead: The GHS 2002 VSD+ including HEX@TM control from Atlas Copco. A major advantage of the system for the applications mentioned is the energy recovery that the models have.
· Controller enables intelligent resource management. «Since the changeover, the manufacturer has been able to recover three quarters of the heat loss via hot water by means of recuperation and use it productively in the process,» summarizes Roy Mikalsen, the responsible account manager at Atlas Copco. The pump’s HEX@TM controller harbors further savings potential: This control system allows the speed to be precisely adjusted to the required vacuum level. And this is particularly useful in applications where the vacuum requirement varies greatly depending on the process and time of day. The bottom line is that there is no unnecessary vacuum performance and no more wasted energy, which significantly increases efficiency and effectiveness.
· Smart functionalities via user interface. Other features are also advantageous for Isola: thanks to the Industry 4.0 capabilities of the GHS VSD+ series, the vacuum system status can be checked at any time via smartphones or PCs. In addition, users can start and stop the setup or adjust the setpoint as required via the configurable user interface. «This allows the vacuum pumps to be configured even more specifically and sustainably for the respective applications,» summarizes Roy Mikalsen. Other optional functions include intelligent scheduling, pump-down optimization, and leak detection.
· Noise level 30 dB lower. The pioneering installation also fulfils modern ergonomic requirements and is 30 dB quieter than the old system. This effect is partly due to the absence of a fan. With the GHS VSD+ series, on the other hand, oil cooling ensures the optimum motor temperature across the entire speed range. «The noise level was a relevant criterion for us when making the decision because our production facility is located in a residential area,» explains Factory Manager Ulf Strand. Overall, the new screw pump allows Isola to utilize important savings potential, ergonomic advantages, and a variety of intelligent functions. Based on these vacuum solutions, the manufacturer can organize its operations sustainably in the future and thus contribute to environmentally friendly construction.
In short: Atlas Copco GHS VSD+ vacuum pumps help Isola contribute to energy efficient building practices.
At Atlas Copco Vacuum Technique they collaborate with customers to turn industrial ideas into leading edge technology in vacuum and abatement solutions. Their passionate people, expertise and service bring sustainable value to industries everywhere. Atlas Copco is based in Stockholm, Sweden with customers in more than 180 countries and about 53,000 employees. Revenues of BSEK 173 in 2023.
At Atlas Copco Industrial Vacuum, they have revolutionized vacuum technology. Their state-of-the-art vacuum pumps and systems exemplify today’s connected and digitalized industry. Their teams of exceptional and passionate people engineer customer-centric vacuum solutions that offer better energy efficiency, consumer safety, improved productivity, and a sustainable future. Their products are the invisible force that drive all industrial applications and manufacturing. They are headquartered in Cologne, Germany with production centers in Germany, France, Belgium, Czech Republic, the US, and China.
