Wood industry encouraged to boost energy efficiency

The Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association says the industry needs to seize efficiency opportunities to reduce energy costs and fuel use.

“A lot of our sector’s emissions come from energy, as well as a large proportion of ongoing operational costs. We’re increasingly seeing businesses taking steps to use less energy because it’s a win–win; lower bills and lower emissions,” says Mark Ross, WPMA Chief Executive.

EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority) says there’s never been a more important time for businesses to consider their energy use, with costs rising and growing uncertainty about the security of supply.

“The easiest and most cost-effective first step businesses can take is to see how they can operate more efficiently. Many businesses can save 10-30% off their energy bills by doing simple adjustments like boiler tuning or fixing leaky valves,” says Paul Bull, Manager Regional and Sector Partnerships, EECA.

One of the country’s leading packaging manufacturers, Oji Fibre Solutions (OjiFS), has slashed nearly a fifth of its LPG use at its Christchurch box plant.

After installing a data-driven platform to analyse and collect data to help fine tune its operation, OjiFS found it was losing a large amount of heat through the plant’s corrugating preheating rollers. Through a process of ongoing tuning the plant has been able to send automated decisions to its boiler and reduce LPG fuel use by 18%.

Andrew Bavis, National Operations Improvement Manager, OjiFS Packaging, said the process has supported a learning culture at the plant, enabling the team to continue refining operations.

“It’s really important to us that we’re leaving the environment in as good if not better state than we found it and that’s a really important part of what we do. We always have a focus on how we can do more with the same or less input,” Andrew says.

The Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association says it’s a clear example of what progress is possible in the industry.