Gothenburg, Sweden: NKC Manufacturing

A perfect location for manufacturing. A heavy industry production plant in Sweden has become greener as a result of reducing its energy consumption.

Gothenburg, Sweden: NKC Manufacturing

Gothenburg-based NKC Manufacturing manufactures bearing retainers. The company has always been conscious of the environment, despite its involvement in heavy industry. However, since NKC was sold to Nakanishi Metal Works Co. Co. Co., energy efficiency has been further advanced. Besides being necessary, the ventilation system in the factory building has not been updated since 1965. This led to a high energy consumption. Anna Sj*stad, Facility and Environmental Manager at NKC, explains the goal of the project was to minimise energy usage and protect the environment. NKC produced approximately 4.4 million products in 2014, with annual revenues of 313 million SEK (approximately 33.5 million EUR). In addition to the company grounds, the Produktionsbolag Göteborg

Problem

Since 1965, the factory has not had a new ventilation system. The company wanted to reduce its energy consumption, which was too high. A project to implement energy efficiency was asked of BT.

Result

Performance contracts have now defined the conditions. The five-year return on investment has been calculated at twenty percent. The Service Centre will manage and optimise the building on an ongoing basis. Data in real-time makes it possible to monitor how and when the factory runs, as well as where energy can be saved. In addition to a modern building automation and energy management system, the company now has a new ventilation system. BT’s support enabled the company to increase its energy efficiency by a significant amount. We pay a fixed amount every month in order to avoid surprises, says Johan Carlson, site manager at the NKC plant in Gothenburg. However, the factory has the potential to save even more on costs and the environment. But NKC is not stopping there. The company plans to launch a new product soon. Composting plants transform organic waste into energy-rich dirt. The better place to start than at home is to reduce the wasteful use of our natural resources, says Carlson.

Features

The operating and maintenance costs for energy were reduced. A cost-neutral solution was provided to NKC Manufacturing without the need for capital expenditures. Building management systems provide information on energy availability and trends, allowing for simpler operation and maintenance of the building. Efficiencies could be improved, reducing CO2 emissions. 

Sweden

The 400-year-old city of Gothenburg is an urban oasis and a growing economic powerhouse, boasting 274 square metres of green space per individual. By 2030, the region should have about 1.2 million people living in it. The region passed the 1 million mark in the spring of 2017. In addition, ongoing investments in transportation infrastructure have increased commuters’ commuting from nearby areas. Within the labour market area, there are currently 1.2 million people, but by 2030 there will be 1.8 million. Located in Sweden’s automotive capital and home to Volvo’s manufacturing and testing facilities, Gothenburg is as likely to produce technological breakthroughs as Silicon Valley.

As an interconnected city, Stockholm is moving towards a more sustainable future. Many of the development projects in the area are located in ideal city locations. Additionally, businesses and academia are encouraged to test out new ideas in the city. As one example, HSB Living Lab is a project in which students and researchers live within a dynamic building in order to test new innovations and technical solutions for next-generation housing.

Toward a better future, Göteborg works hard. According to the Global Destination Sustainability Index 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, the city has been honoured as the European Capital of Smart Tourism 2020. An international ranking of destinations based on their sustainability performance is the Global Destination Sustainability Index.