28.08.2023

Sustainability at various levels

Modern technologies, self-generated energy and climate-friendly mobility. MAPAL is investing four million euros in its headquarters in Aalen alone.

MAPAL puts a premium on energy and environmental management. The aim is to make the operational processes at all the Group’s sites more sustainable. MAPAL has already proactively implemented a series of measures in recent years. Other projects are ready to be realized. By 2025, the company wants to reduce the energy-related CO2 emissions of its products by 40 percent compared to 2015.

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Parking spaces with charging points for e-cars in front of the main entrance at the Aalen site.
  • Parking spaces with charging points for e-cars in front of the main entrance at the Aalen site.
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    Parking spaces with charging points for electric cars are available for visitors to the headquarters in Aalen. ©MAPAL 

  • Aerial view of the factory premises of the MAPAL India site
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    The subsidiary in India generates around one third of its electricity requirements through its own photovoltaic systems. ©MAPAL 

  • Hardening of a hollow shank taper (HSK) by laser beam.
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    A newly developed laser hardening system for the processing of Hollow shank tapers. The system replaces the environmentally harmful salt bath hardening and requires much less energy. ©MAPAL  
MAPAL approaches the issue of sustainability head-on and at various levels: on the one hand, an energy management team deals with resource-efficient and energy-saving processes in the company itself. On the other hand, the research and development engineers at MAPAL work on supporting customers with innovative tools and chucks that address the issue of sustainability.

Use of smart technologies

Hardening of a hollow shank taper (HSK) by laser beam.
A newly developed laser hardening system for the processing of Hollow shank tapers. The system replaces the environmentally harmful salt bath hardening and requires much less energy.   ©MAPAL
One focus of MAPAL’s energy and environmental management is the use of intelligent technologies and systems. In case of investments such as the construction or upgrade of buildings or renovation of production facilities, the planning and introduction of such projects is in line with environmental aspects. Specialists from MAPAL spent several years developing a laser hardening system to replace the environmentally harmful hardening of tools in a salt bath. The system was successfully commissioned a few months ago.

Production of electricity

Aerial view of the factory premises of the MAPAL India site
The subsidiary in India generates around one third of its electricity requirements through its own photovoltaic systems.   ©MAPAL
MAPAL also focused entirely on sustainability when building the new subsidiary in Coimbatore, India. The plant generates around a third of its electricity demand using its own photovoltaic systems and implemented other climate action measures. Since last year, the subsidiary in Ballarat, Australia, has been completely self-sufficient in electricity. MAPAL plants in the UK, Poland and Italy also operate their own photovoltaic systems. Meanwhile, in the Centre of Competence for solid carbide tools in Altenstadt, the facility uses its own well water-cooling technology for tool manufacturing and the building’s air conditioning, thus reducing its carbon footprint.

Green power and green heat

The company’s main plant in Aalen is consistently moving towards environmentally-friendly energy supply. A highly efficient cogeneration unit was in operation for many years. In the spring of last year, it has been replaced by a new even more efficient unit. As a result, MAPAL saves around 80 tons of CO2 every year. In addition, the company uses the waste heat from the machines in the newer halls to heat the buildings. Another hall at the Aalen plant will soon get a heat-recovery system and a high-performance heat pump to further improve the sustainable use of heating energy.

Since 2021, MAPAL has only purchased electricity produced in an environmentally friendly manner to meet its electricity needs both in the main plant in Aalen and in the eight subsidiaries in Germany. The main plant in Aalen will soon produce a large part of this itself. The installation of PV systems on several hall roofs is already in the final stages of planning. It will allow MAPAL to produce around half a million kilowatt hours of electricity to meet its own demand.
 

Climate-friendly mobility

MAPAL is also investing in a green future in the field of mobility. The company fleet consists of an increasingly number of electric and hybrid cars. Six electric charging stations are available in the visitors’ car park at the Aalen plant to provide a charging facility for visitors’ and company vehicles. All German sites now have their own charging stations. There are plans to extend this further. The installation of the first charging points for employees in Aalen together with the creation of a solar carport in the car parks is already underway. In the medium term, the company wants to generate a further 500,000 kilowatt hours of electricity in this way, i.e., a total of around one million kilowatt hours of electricity. The current investments in sustainable projects at the Aalen site alone thus add up to around four million euros.

This includes the environmentally friendly mobility of employees, such as providing company bikes, subsidising the “Deutschland-Ticket” and the option to work remotely. Converting lighting to LED technology and switching product packaging to recycled materials are also part of MAPAL’s sustainability concept.
 

Clear commitment to sustainable corporate culture

For Dr Jochen Kress, President of the MAPAL Group, the company’s commitment to the environment and climate is a matter close to his heart. He says: “We have a duty to future generations, and as a family business we consider this to be particularly important.” MAPAL has set itself clear, tangible goals. There may still be a long way to go to fully achieve these. “However, we’re working towards these goals with all our might,” Kress emphasises.

Contact

Sabine Raab Public Relations Sabine.Raab@mapal.com Phone: +49 7361 585 3475

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