A sustainable approach to business is all about efficiency, in both work processes and equipment. If you regularly review, identify and correct inefficiencies your business will become more profitable.
The repair workshop is a power hungry environment with high current devices such as air compressors and spray booths. These devices, especially older plant can cause power factor imbalances which can greatly increase you power charges. While investing in new equipment might not be in the budget, you can bring a specialist in to correct the power factor – a capacitor or inductor bank is connected to the supply.
An electrical consultant can undertake an audit and determine the best way to achieve the ideal power factor and show the pay back period (usually 18 months). This can result
in a 20 per cent reduction in electric bills.
If you can invest in new equipment then inverter controlled fans and compressors save power by varying the motor speed to suit the requirements. This means that compressors can provide recharge at a speed dependent on demand, usually less than full power. Electric sanding machines supplied by companies such as Mirka and Festool will also offer significant savings, while devices like handheld gas catalytic driers speed up cycle times and go easy on the power consumption.
