The survey, carried out by Eriks’ condition monitoring division, made extensive use of modern thermographic techniques to identify areas of heat loss. Many of these would have been difficult or impossible to detect and quantify in any other way.
Pirelli commissioned the survey after evaluating in detail the methods that would be used by Eriks. The survey took two days to complete, Eriks comments that the work it carried out cost Pirelli less than £600 per day and caused negligible disruption to the company’s operations. After analysing the data obtained, Eriks presented Pirelli with a detailed report that included individual thermographic images and remedial recommendations for every area of heat loss identified.
“A few of the problems we found, such as missing insulation, were readily apparent,” said Eriks’ Mark Eagling. “But others were much more obscure. For example, we found cases where the insulation looked perfect but was, in fact, ineffective because covered insulation had degraded to the point it was not detectable by normal methods.”
The remedial action recommended in the Eriks report was in every case, says the company, simple and inexpensive to implement. Pirelli has now taken the necessary steps to address the issues identified in the survey. As a result, the company is now enjoying significant savings on its energy bill as well as improving the environmental performance of its Carlisle operations. (Tyres & Accessories/Staffordshire, U.K.)
