Mettler-Toledo, LLC, has introduced its GreenMT program designed to measure energy and resource usage in order to determine the company's global carbon footprint. "The program has spawned an EcoDesign initiative that targets the full product lifecycle," said a company spokesperson. "Specific goals are to lower energy, reduce material and resources used in manufacture and maintenance, and promote resource efficiency for customers. All along the value chain - R&D, manufacturing, transportation, point of sale - measurement equipment has been designed with environmental factors in mind."
Chemical Synthesis System for R&D Labs
Mettler-Toledo applied EcoDesign principles to its latest-generation EasyMax automated chemistry development system. "It replaces the traditional round bottom flask with reactor vessels of differing volumes to suit the job in hand," said the spokesperson. "This approach consumes less reagents and solvents, reducing both costs and potential safety risks. The system's integrated, solid-state heating and cooling system eliminates the previous need for energy-intensive external cooling devices like cryostats, resulting in overall energy savings. Exact temperature and sample control likewise make it possible to downsize reactors and substance amounts."
X-Ray Inspection for Goods Manufacturing
"We designed our latest Safeline inspection machine with a more sensitive sensor in combination with an energy-saving X-ray generator, lowering overall power consumption by up to 45% and reducing total cost of ownership," continued the spokesperson. "Its effectiveness at measuring and detecting a problem before products leave the factory helps to avoid shipping and possible recalls of defective products, which wastes energy in transportation."
Transportation
According to the company, freight carriers are sometimes accused of moving "air" - packages with excessive internal voids or pallets that no longer fit together perfectly inside trucks and containers. "Dimensional weight pricing is the answer - charging consignors not only by the kilogram but also by the physical size of their shipments," said the spokesperson. "Through awareness of each item's exact dimensions, the carrier will also know what objects can be used to fill surplus volume. The Mettler-Toledo range of Cargoscan dimensioners use laser range finder technology to measure the length, width and height of parcels, pallets and other goods."
Point of Sale
Front-of-store weighing technology tends to operate in situations where usage intensity fluctuates in the course of a day and a week due to variation in shopper numbers. "Implementing pre-programmed energy-saving modes ensure that a scale is ready for use and prevents the equipment from using unnecessary power during slack periods," said the spokesperson. "The latest UC Evo line as much as halves power demand to 32-36 watts or less when the scales enter sleep or standby mode. Measurement equipment designed with environmental factors in mind can be a potent driver of solutions that address the global energy challenge."
For more information contact:
Mettler-Toledo, LLC
1900 Polaris Parkway
Columbus, OH 43240
800-786-0038
www.mt.com/green