A world leader in efficient injection moulding
The world’s largest liquid silicone processing company sees energy efficiency as a competitive Advantage
By pairing with starlim, the traditional toolmaking company sterner developed into the world’s largest processor of liquid silicone. The company now manufactures 5,000 different silicone products at three locations in the Wels region. Most of these products go unnoticed in our daily lives. Each year, over 11 billion silicone parts make their way from the headquarters in Marchtrenk to industrial customers in Europe, America and Asia. starlim produces single and multi-material parts out of and with silicone in a fully automatic injection moulding process.
More than 200 injection moulding, compound and 2K systems are in operation at the Marchtrenk and Weißkirchen locations. The production runs in shifts, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
“Energy Leaders” are companies, communities and initiatives that are pioneers in the energy transition. As an energy leader, starlim-sterner proves with various projects and programs how energy efficiency, renewable energy and innovative energy technologies contribute to climate protection, but also to increasing quality of life and competitiveness.
Constantly striving to increase efficiency
The strategy is to constantly increase efficiency in all areas and to furtheroptimise based on the experience gained. This requires advancements incontrol technology. Since a flaw in controlling can cost a lot of money and energy, starlim puts great effort into continuous improvement.
Use efficient machines
starlim works closely with the manufacturer of its injection mouldingmachines. Together, new technical possibilities were developed toincrease the machines’ efficiency and convert them to servomotor drives. Servomotors react to changing output requirements and run at optimal speed. In everyday production, this allows 30% electricity savings compared to a standard drive.
What was achieved?
Projects: step-by-step to higher efficiency
PV systems at 3 sites
- Marchtrenk: 938 kWp
- Weißkirchen: 245 kWp
- Lambach: 266 kWp
- PV electricity generation: around 1.5 million kWh/year
Cooling processes
Freecooling, water cooling
Savings: 150 MWh/year at one plant and similar at a second
Ventilation systems
Heat recovery, new Systems with layered ventilation
Savings: 274 MWh/year savings and electricity consumption reduced by 2/3 at one plant. The same applies to a second plant site and partly to the main plant.
Space heating
Use of waste heat in Weißkirchen and Lambach: no additional fossil energy required for heating
Compressed air
Pressure reduction: savings of 40,000 kWh/year
Further information can be found here: www.energyleaders.eu
The entire report is available for download as a PDF.
