Page 24 - ETP-April-May2020

FACILITY UPDATES

DSM to expand capacity at plant in Evansville, Indiana, US
oyal DSM has announced it is futureproofing and ex-
Rpanding the capacity of its high-performance materi-
als compounding plant in Evansville, Indiana, USA. With
the investment, DSM will enhance the site to produce
the next generation of advanced materials, including bio-
based thermoplastics. The project is expected to be com-
pleted in Q3 2021.
The extensive modernization and expansion of the
site is being driven by increasing customer demand for
advanced material solutions for electrification, metal re-
placement and lightweighting in multiple industries. It
includes the addition of the latest state-of-the-art produc-
tion technologies, increasing efficiency and sustainability tools to meet this need today and in the future.”
throughout the facility. Shruti Singhal, President at DSM Engineering Plas-
“As demand from our customers for sustainable sourc- tics said: “This investment reinforces our focus on North
es of advanced materials grows, so does our need to invest”, America being a key growth market for our business. It
said Jud Gibson, Vice President Commercial Americas at also underlines DSM’s commitment to serve our custom-
DSM Engineering Plastics. “The expansion of our North ers by continuously improving the technology and sustain-
American operations helps to ensure we have the right ability of our facilities around the world.”

Tata Motors Lucknow plant Arburg formally opens new
going green training center

ata Motors Luc- rburg has recently inaugurated its new training centre
Tknow plant has Ain the presence of around 170 invited guests from the
minimized the use region. The new 13,700 sq m building will allow customers
of energy in its func- to benefit from the latest digital training technology and
tions and processes machine equipment. “Our intention to build such a train-
with its constructive ing centre was sim-
and consistent ef- ply about people,”
forts. The company’s emphasized Michael
Lucknow plant has Hehl, Managing
adopted an Energy Management System (EMS), which has Partner and Spokes-
ensured a substantial reduction of 38 percent in specific en- person for the Man-
ergy consumption over the last four years, i.e. from 406 kWh agement in his open-
/ equivalent vehicle in FY2015-16 to 250 kWh / equivalent ing speech. “That is
vehicle in FY2018-19. Tata Motors’ Lucknow plant is mov- because despite high
ing swiftly towards improving its energy efficiency by lev- tech and increasing digitalisation, people still play a crucial
eraging innovation, optimizing operations, implementing role for a successful future.” The new training centre, of-
The Economic Times POLYMERS | April-May 2020
energy-efficient technologies, adoption of energy conserva- fering 13,700 m² of floor space, features a large machine
tion measures, use of renewable sources of energy, low-cost hall with space for 15 Allrounders to provide practical
automation and introducing employee suggestion schemes. training courses on Arburg technology. But there is also
Speaking on the initiatives, Pramod Choudhary, Plant Head ample space for theory courses, with 11 classrooms being
- Tata Motors Lucknow, “Environment protection features available, all of which are equipped with a modern smart
as a top priority agenda in our business and we have set the board. In addition, each course participant uses his or her
action plans for carbon emission control, energy conserva- own touch-screen PC running a simulated control system.
tion, water conservation, and waste management. Our Luc- The PCs are networked with each other. But there is even
know plant has always been cognizant of the need for energy more digitalisation than that: data can be transferred from
conservation and has been steadily making progress towards the smart board in the classroom to a smaller board on the
attaining 100 percent renewable energy sourcing for all its respective machine. This enables real-time interaction and
operations by 2030. We have increased the share of renew- cooperation independent of location or device. The new
able energy to over 16 percent in the last two years by in- building will increase the total floor space at the German
stalling 4MWp capacity Roof top Solar power plant in the headquarters by almost five percent to around 180,000 sq
plant premises. We will continue to drive such innovative m. In architectural terms, the training centre resembles the
initiatives.” Customer Center inaugurated in 2009.

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