Sven Lensdorf: Primary energy costs are certainly the main drivers of rising costs in the manufacturing industry. This is clear, for example, in countries such as Poland, where electricity prices have quadrupled. To offset their CO₂ emissions, companies also have to purchase special certificates, which just goes to show how important an issue this is. In addition, environmental, social and governance issues, known as ESG, require companies to reduce their CO₂ footprint.
Sven Lensdorf: A key challenge is raising awareness of energy efficiency, particularly in relation to compressed air. Although compressed air only accounts for a small part of the energy costs, it offers considerable savings potential. Festo addresses this by providing specific advice and training to increase customer awareness and knowledge. Another challenge is closing the gap between the current situation in industry and what is technically possible. Many companies do not realise that their compressed air generation, treatment, distribution and consumption could be improved. This would not only save energy, but also increase the service life of their machines and systems.
To maximise efficiency, we encourage our customers to take a comprehensive approach and look at their entire system. Our aim is to promote an in-depth understanding of compressed air and electric automation so that customers can take the most appropriate measures. The challenges for companies are complex; they include a shortage of resources, capacity problems and, in some cases, a lack of knowledge. Employees are often overloaded with many different tasks and can only concentrate on some of them. Gaps in knowledge in specific areas also contribute to the fact that the required are not taken. Festo sees it as its responsibility to make customers aware of these issues and to support them. One way we do this is through our Festo Energy Saving Services. These allow companies to make significant savings on compressed air systems very quickly.
Sven Lensdorf: Festo is seen as a leader in automation technology, especially in compressed air applications, with a wide range of pneumatic products such as cylinders, valves, maintenance devices and grippers. However, our approach goes beyond individual components. We have seen that optimum efficiency can only be achieved by taking a comprehensive view of a system. That is why we offer thorough audits that cover not only our core products, but also the entire compressed air supply, including compressors, treatment and distribution. These are services we offer too, in addition to our specialisation in pneumatics and automation. We are convinced that an extensive approach and advice create the greatest added value for our customers. Once we have identified potential savings, we can offer solutions for how compressed air can be used more efficiently.
During our audits, we apply the latest technical standards in order to assess the complete cycle of a compressed air system. We record the power consumption, air volume and the pressure level in the compressor station and in the pneumatic application itself. This impartial data allows us to provide objective advice. Customers can immediately see where there is a savings potential, regardless of the equipment manufacturer. The gathered data allows them to make informed decisions about their compressed air systems.
Sven Lensdorf: Festo Energy Saving Services initially offer transparency about a company's current energy status, whether through meticulous audits or specific sustainability checks. Customers receive quantified data on CO₂ emissions and financial losses, which is crucial to enable them to plan appropriate measures. We then draw up detailed improvement proposals that not only highlight energy savings but also offer practical steps to implement them. In addition, we attach great importance to raising the awareness of our customers' employees and training them. Our aim is to promote a complete learning process that goes beyond the project in question and enables lasting improvements in energy efficiency.
Sven Lensdorf: Our Energy Saving Services aim to raise awareness of the responsible use of resources, especially when it comes to compressed air. We make it clear that compressed air systems really do contribute to CO₂ emissions if they are not operated with renewable energies. A significant proportion of these CO₂ emissions are caused by the use of compressed air. This highlights the responsibility of operators to minimise their CO₂ emissions through effective resource management. Large companies have a decisive influence on the global CO₂ balance, and since CO₂ is a major factor in climate change, they have an important responsibility. We provide support and advice on complying with environmental protection and energy efficiency standards, in particular ISO 50001, with a specific focus on compressed air systems. Our aim is to help customers fulfil their environmental responsibility and achieve sustainable improvements.
Svens Lensdorf: Two years ago, we worked on a project that came about because of a serious leakage problem at the plant of a major automotive supplier. After thoroughly inspecting the plant over a period of four weeks and carrying out the necessary repairs, we were able to reduce the compressed air consumption by almost 20%. This result was achieved without investing in new compressors or structural changes, but through specific improvements on site. Our work showed that even in a highly developed production environment such as Germany, significant savings are possible by focussing on so-called "low-hanging fruit", i.e. measures that can be taken quickly and easily.
Sven Lensdorf: Awareness and knowledge go hand in hand, and this also applies to efficiency and the use of compressed air and pneumatics. We want to build up this essential knowledge among customers and their employees. Nowadays, colleges and universities spend less and less time teaching pneumatics, so we want to close this knowledge gap, whether with Festo Didactic or with training courses on the basics of automation. We show why pneumatics is the best technology for certain applications. Understanding the correct design of pneumatic systems is crucial for the development of energy-efficient machines and systems. That is why we see it as the role of Didactic to create awareness and the necessary knowledge through training so that customers are able to create lasting and efficient solutions.
Sven Lensdorf: Sustainability is an integral part of our production and logistics locations, as well as our collaboration with suppliers. We offer a comprehensive catalogue of strategies ranging from the reduction and optimisation of packaging material to the general reduction of resource usage. All with the aim of being CO₂-neutral in Scope 1 and 2 by 2024. To achieve this, we maintain a consistent focus on applying the sustainability principles and services that we also recommend to our customers. We regularly audit our global production sites ourselves, identify weak points and use our Energy Saving Services Portal to boost energy efficiency. In other words, we do exactly what we recommend to others.
To further increase our sustainability efforts, we have joined the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), an alliance of the UNGC, CDP, WWF and WIR. This initiative enables companies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions using a scientific basis so that the 1.5 °C target of the Paris Agreement can be achieved. By joining, we are committing to regular reviews and transparent reporting of our progress. This commitment also brings significant added value for our customers: we actively support them with planning their energy-efficient solutions and applying them, for example through Festo Energy Saving Services. This helps them to significantly reduce their energy consumption and costs while at the same time pursuing their own sustainability goals more effectively.
Sven Lensdorf: Companies should become aware of their responsibility in the area of sustainability, since it is essential for all future action. Many are already aware, but there are areas in which the commitment needs to be taken to the next level. Energy-intensive companies in particular can bring about major positive changes by taking specific measures.
Technologies are constantly evolving, opening up opportunities for more sustainable and efficient innovations than ever before. This requires courage and the willingness to abandon tried and tested methods, as well as cooperation with expert partners who can support them to achieve a more sustainable future. Transparent reporting on sustainable measures and successes is important both externally and within the company. Employees are increasingly identifying with companies that pursue a clear mission and show that they are fully committed to social and ecological topics. Projects that go beyond pure profit maximisation and make a contribution to sustainability strengthen employees' sense of belonging.
Examples such as reducing the CO₂ footprint, installing electric charging stations or using photovoltaic systems show employees that their company is making a positive contribution to environmental protection and lead to greater motivation and commitment for this issue.
We would like to thank Mr Sven Lensdorf for this inspiring interview. His insights into the challenges and opportunities around the topic of energy efficiency in the manufacturing industry, particularly in compressed air usage, are extremely valuable. His commitment and expertise in promoting sustainable practices reflects the strong wish at Festo to make companies aware so they can become more efficient and be responsible players in their own markets.