At Perkins, sustainability is part of who we are

Sustainability is key to a successful business. Indeed, for Perkins it is at the forefront of our thinking in relation to all aspects of our business, from our global facilities, to manufacturing processes, engines and aftermarket services. Our longstanding commitment to sustainability also inspires us to help our customers and end users to achieve their goals – in a sustainable way.

Carl Hodge, the environmental manager at Perkins’ Peterborough, UK, facility, says: “We are committed to contributing to a reduced-carbon future and supporting global efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change.

“We demonstrate this through our ongoing progress in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from our manufacturing operations and our continued investment in new products, technologies and services to help customers achieve their climate-related objectives.

“We have a responsibility to reduce our environmental impact and this is implemented in all areas of the business across multiple facilities. We are committed to Think Global, Act Local.”

Sustainable manufacturing

At each facility we’re focused on driving out waste, operating an efficient and cost-effective system that uses as minimal energy as possible, minimising emissions and recycling and reusing waste products where possible. 

• Energy efficient processes One key to sustainable manufacturing is to ensure that energy is consumed only when it’s being used for something productive.
• Controlling emissions Most Perkins engines are built on modern robotic and computerised production lines supported by automated heating, lighting, compressed air and cooling systems with automated controls to switch the systems off when not required. Energy usage is closely monitored and controlled, not only in manufacturing areas but throughout the entire organisation, even to the point of automatically switching off lights in unoccupied rooms. Even noise is monitored and controlled.
• All substances re-used and recycled All emissions, whether gases, liquids, or solid/metal wastes, are monitored, treated where necessary, and sent for reuse/recycling wherever possible.
• Processes and procedures All processes and procedures are reviewed regularly. On site Environmental Health and Safety teams thoroughly investigate any incident, identify the root cause, determine if lessons can be learned and implement effective control measures reduce the chance of it happening again.
• ISO Standards Our Peterborough, UK facility is certified to the ISO14001 and ISO50001 Standards. This means robust environmental and energy management systems are implemented and all aspects on environmental and energy control follow the PDCA (plan, do, check, act) cycle to minimise impact and improve where possible. All our sites throughout the world work with similar controls.
• Environmental requirements/regulations At Perkins, sustainability is a part of who we are. It’s integral to our daily activities and something our employees take very seriously.
  
  

Peterborough’s PV farm

At Peterborough, our focus on climate change, business goals and ever-increasing utilities costs required us to investigate alternative sources of energy to become self-sufficient and reduce overheads.

The installation of a 1.36MW photovoltaic (PV) array at the Peterborough site in 2020/2021 supports 100 percent of the company’s baseload and can support power requirements to one of our factories. This is currently the largest commercial PV farm in Peterborough.

Beyond the PV installation, Perkins has seeded over 13,000 sqm2 of land to encourage wildlife to thrive in and around the panels.

A new generation of engines

Perkins invested hundreds of thousands of hours of engineering time and talent to develop and test a new generation of engines meeting EU Stage V and U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final emission standards. The effort produced a suite of advanced technologies that significantly increased power density, performance and fuel efficiency while meeting the most stringent emission standards currently in force.

Those engines are part of a full range from 0.5 to 18.1 litres and 8.8 to 470 kW that includes a new family of 2.8 and 3.6 litre products designed to meet the needs of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) plus four powerful platforms – a 9.3 litre, a 12.5 litre, a 15.2 litre and an 18.1 litre at the top end of the range.

And for those manufacturers and end users looking to reduce their carbon emissions, a number of renewable and low carbon intensity fuels can be used. These fuels, which can include biodiesel up to B20 and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), must meet the specifications laid out in the engine’s Operation and Maintenance Manual. 

Global aftermarket support – extending machine life

Perkins is dedicated to supporting our engines and the customers who depend on them with socially responsible, sustainable aftermarket solutions throughout their productive life. That all begins with proper maintenance, and one of the most important keys to success is effective filtration.

Ecoplus filters use an ‘element based’ design, which means they are significantly better for the environment because there is no metal can or centre tube to dispose of. They require less material, minimise waste after use and can be easily and cheaply incinerated or recycled.

The Perkins^® Power Exchange programme also offers remanufactured parts including fuel injectors, turbochargers and long blocks from stock for most engines and with the same warranty as new products.

Perkins Power Exchange is a socially responsible, sustainable aftermarket solution that keeps non-renewable resources in circulation and use. It means instead of just one life, Perkins parts are brought back for many more lifetimes.

And, of course, if a total engine replacement is the right option, Perkins can supply a newly manufactured like-for-like replacement for your existing engine. Or you can opt for a new, power-dense Stage V/Tier 4 Final engine you can often install with little or no modifications to your machine.

No matter which sustainable option you choose, your local Perkins distributor is ready to help.

To discover more about our commitment to sustainability visit www.perkins.com/sustainability