Xten Industries, a Kenosha-based injection molder and contract manufacturer, is planning several energy-saving improvements to its manufacturing operations that could save more than 1 million kilowatt hours per year.
Last week, the company received a grant for more than $30,000 from Focus on Energy that will help pay the salary of a full-time employee who will spearhead the company’s energy reducing programs.
"This grant is intended to provide the manpower that lean organizations like Xten need to identify and manage projects that will have a dramatic impact on our energy consumption," said Mark Dirr, Xten’s director of engineering. "We are focused on serving our customer base and these important projects cannot be allowed to sit idle waiting for the economy to improve. The offer of this grant proves that Focus on Energy is determined to help Wisconsin businesses make the transition to energy efficient/green technologies so everyone grows stronger."
The employee will help Xten obtain additional Focus on Energy grants that will further its energy reducing plans. Those plans include replacing heater bands that are used to melt plastic in the injection molding process and installing new software on its injection molders which will save electricity.
The heater bands that Xten uses now are made from metal. The company hopes to install new bands made from composite materials that will both eliminate heat loss and use less power, said Matthew Davidson, president of the company.
Xten also hopes to install software on its injection molders that will put them into a “hibernate” mode when they are idling during the day, Davidson said.
"That one is not too expensive," he said. "The software and install time is about $30,000, and it should save about 500,000 kilowatt hours per year. The heater bands project will cost about $100,000 and will save almost 400,000 kilowatt hours per year. And none of these projects has more than a two year payback."
Xten could gain further energy savings by installing variable frequency motors on its hydraulic presses, Davidson said.
"These things are sitting right under our noses as opportunities to save real money," he said. "These are great projects, but we didn’t pay attention until we found out we could get these grants. It’s been a great experience for us."
For more information, visit www.Xtenindustries.com.
