A Rochdale-based ink manufacturer has identified annual savings of £52,774 through energy efficiency measures, with support from ENWORKS advisers at Groundwork Oldham and Rochdale.

INX International UK Ltd manufactures inks for printing on drinking cans and is one of the firms being supported by Groundwork Oldham and Rochdale.

Following advice on improving resource efficiency, INX International has installed a more efficient chilling system at its site on the Trans Pennine Trading Estate in Rochdale. The equipment cost £130,000 but was paid for with a loan from the Carbon Trust. It will save the company £27,000 a year in energy bills, with a payback period of just over four years.

Another £10,000 of annual savings is in the pipeline after a power factor correction unit, thermostatic sensors and roller-door sensor were installed to reduce heat loss and make more efficient use of gas and electricity.

Two old compressors were replaced with new timer controls and variable speed drive technology, to save the business a further £12,500 a year.

As a result of these initiatives, combined annual savings of 255 tonnes of annual CO₂ have been identified at the Rochdale site.

The free support provided by Groundwork Oldham and Rochdale is tailored to the needs of individual businesses and can include on-site efficiency reviews, training and networking opportunities, telephone advice, and ongoing help with making improvements. The aim is to help SMEs to cut their energy, material, water and waste costs and increase their profitability.

Groundwork Oldham and Rochdale is a member of the ENWORKS partnership. It supports small and medium sized businesses across all sectors in the Oldham, Rochdale, Bury and Bolton areas.

Posted 29 September 2010