Manufacturing

Driving reductions in waste, water and energy

Manufacturing
Manufacturing

Sustainable manufacturing

Building for a sustainable future

At Peterborough, UK, 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.

Read more
Building for a sustainable future
Building for a sustainable future

Energy saving and sustainability are a part of our day to day operations not just in the manufacturing processes, but throughout our facilities. Energy consumption throughout each facility is tightly monitored and controlled, and waste products from all operations and supporting areas are either reused or recycled.


Ongoing engagement of employees and communication is key. Our employees want to actively play their part and know that following onsite processes and procedures will help us achieve our targets and minimise our environmental impact.

At each one of our facilities, we’re focused on:

  • Driving out wastage
  • Operating an efficient and cost-effective system that uses as minimal energy as possible
  • Minimising emissions
  • Recycling/reusing waste products where possible in line with the waste hierarchy
 

Robotic and computerised production lines

Our manufacturing processes are designed with sustainability and efficiency in mind. Robotic and computerised production lines cut costs and energy usage by ensuring that power is only consumed when it is needed.

Robotic and computerised production lines
Robotic and computerised production lines

Automation of heating, lighting, compressed air and cooling systems

Heating, lighting, compressed air and cooling systems are similarly monitored, with automated controls to switch the systems off when not required.

Automation of heating, lighting, compressed air and cooling systems
Automation of heating, lighting, compressed air and cooling systems

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.

All substances re-used and recycled
All substances re-used and recycled

How does Perkins promote sustainability development at its facilities?

Energy saving and sustainability are a part of our day to day operations not just in the manufacturing processes, but throughout our facilities. Energy consumption throughout each facility is tightly monitored and controlled, and waste products from all operations and supporting areas are either reused or recycled.

Ongoing engagement of employees and communication is key. Our employees want to actively play their part and know that following onsite processes and procedures will help us achieve our targets and minimise our environmental impact.

Perkins is a company with a keen sense of its environmental responsibilities and a determination to follow a policy of sustainable development. Every stage of the manufacturing processes in our facilities has been studied and reassessed to see if there is any way in which it can be made more energy efficient. Sustainability is built into the way we work.

All the teams at our various facilities are trained to be constantly aware of the importance of sustainability. Environmental responsibility is part of being a Perkins employee. We promote sustainable development through:

  • Energy efficient processes
  • Automated controls on energy consuming equipment
  • Monitoring and measurement of emissions by land, water and air
  • Management of waste in line with the waste hierarchy
  • Understanding and adhering to regulatory requirements
  • Communication to employees to ensure engagement and sharing of knowledge
  • Driving continual improvement 

Energy-efficient processes

Automated controls mean that energy is only consumed when it’s needed. In simple terms this means:

• Lights go out when there’s no one in the room
• HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems are controlled so that when they’re not needed, they’re not used
• Production processes have been designed to consume as little energy as possible.

Ongoing monitoring and measurement are key to understanding our significant energy users and driving reduction.

Energy-efficient processes
Energy-efficient processes

Controlling emissions

The energy we use at our various facilities is carefully controlled, and so are the emissions that we produce. Nothing material that can be recycled is allowed to go to waste. We work very closely with waste management providers, reduce and reuse where possible and recycle materials in line with the waste hierarchy.

Fluid waste is also well managed to prevent contamination of watercourses and is recycled and reused wherever possible.

Even noise is monitored and controlled. Our test beds are housed within acoustic enclosures that absorb the noise, reducing any potential nuisance to our neighbours, the surrounding community and the risk to our own employees.

Controlling emissions
Controlling emissions

Systems in place

We regularly review our processes and procedures, as we strive to ensure they work all the time.

Should anything ever go wrong, our onsite Environmental Health and Safety teams are on hand to thoroughly investigate the incident, determine the root cause, see what lessons can be learned and implement effective control measures to try to stop it from happening again.

Systems in place
Systems in place

Integral to our business

We understand our legal and moral obligations at each facility and are fully compliant with all local and regional environmental requirements/regulations within the Environmental and Energy space.

For our business, sustainability is an integral part of our day to day activities and is something that is embedded within our employees and is taken very seriously.

Integral to our business
Integral to our business

Our ISO Standard

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.

It’s important for us to know that we’re performing as well, as efficiently and as sustainably as possible. It’s an important requirement for our customers to know that too.

Sustainability is a part of who we are.

Our ISO Standard
Our ISO Standard

Sustainability with Perkins

Engines – reduced emissions

Standards governing emissions from diesel engines have continued to tighten in the past decade, requiring manufacturers of diesel engines and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to reduce the environmental impact of exhaust emissions. Perkins has invested in new technologies to help customers meet the most stringent of global emission standards—EU Stage V. This new generation of engines meets Stage V while matching customer demands for value, innovation and performance.

Learn more
Engines – reduced emissions
Engines – reduced emissions

Aftermarket  – extending machine life

Whether you’re buying a repower or a replacement engine to extend the life of your machine, or parts through our Perkins® Power Exchange scheme, you’re supporting our socially responsible, sustainable aftermarket solutions. Our Power Exchange programme keeps non-renewable resources in circulation and use, meaning that instead of just one life, Perkins parts are brought back for many more lifetimes.

Learn more
Aftermarket – extending machine life
Aftermarket – extending machine life

Industry viewpoints

What does sustainability really mean for the industries Perkins powers? From rental to construction and agriculture to electric power, we’ve spoken to key figures to discover their thoughts on how sustainability is changing their world—today and in the future.

Learn more
Industry viewpoints
Industry viewpoints