A pilot for the introduction of a quick drying clear coat product with a large Bodyshop group, realised a 50% energy saving in the summer months and anticipated a 30% saving during winter months.
Quick drying clear coat products can dramatically cut energy use in bodyshops by enabling fast low-temperature or fully ambient drying.
The product allowed a choice of drying methods, so is adaptable to the size of repair and Bodyshop workflow, sustainability benefits include;
- Lowering booth energy per repair - ambient drying at 20 degrees for 45 minutes and rapid bake of 5 minutes at 60 degrees cuts energy consumption per job significantly.
- Reducing total booth hours – faster processes mean fewer minutes of fans, energy extraction and lighting.
- Increasing throughput without increasing energy – one visit application reduces occupancy time and frees up capacity without using extra energy.
- Process efficiency – faster repairs result in fewer energy minutes per job.
The pilot
The bodyshop set up was two spray boxes with rails, to a two-bay bake box, operating 2 shifts per day between 7am until midnight.
The pilot ran for 5 weeks, with three weeks of data collected before the change, and two weeks of data since the change.
The results
The pilot realised a 50% energy saving in the summer months and anticipated a 30% saving during winter months
In addition, Bake Box gas was eliminated as the bake was turned off. Previously it had been running at 70 degrees, from 7am until midnight.
Direct savings
The pilot saw a weekly gas reduction of 50% and eliminated gas usage to bake box completely.
This is just one of many low-cost cost and energy reduction initiatives you can adopt for spraybooth efficiency, others include; lighting (switch to LED, sectorise and introduce sensors), maintenance (regular cleaning and checking of booth filters, sealing) and behavioural changes (turn-off equipment rather than stand-by, stagger loads, close doors promptly).
All, simple measures that you can take right now.
"ARIES has encouraged bodyshops to review their processes, practises and products unlocking quick wins that help kickstart their carbon reduction journey"
Paul James, PCVR Strategic Account Manager/Sustainability Manager, Akzo Nobel.