Trelleborg Wheel Systems (TWS) seeks to improve production efficiency with the addition of an advanced biomass boiler to its Sri Lankan plant’s steam production process. The biomass-fired boiler will reduce harmful CO2 emissions by a whopping 90%, simultaneously enabling “greener” tyre production – a traditional furnace oil boiler produces substantial CO2 emissions, but is essential to the tyre curing process. The re-engineered structure is to be fully operational in June 2019.
The facility in Makola, near Colombo, has over 850 employees who produce solid tyres for material handling and port industries, and pneumatic tyres for light agricultural applications. However, the process consumes 3.5 million litres of furnace oil annually and emits over 11,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalents. The biomass system is expected to cut the carbon footprint to less than 1,000 tons of CO2 equivalents – a 90% reduction per year. Local producers will supply the biomass needed for the production output, thus shortening supply and boosting the local economy.
Paolo Pompei, President at TWS has said the investment is in line with Trelleborg’s Blue Dimension approach to sustainability, with reduced carbon footprints of production processes and products; the new biomass-fired boiler will significantly improve cost efficiency and productivity. TWS, a subsidiary of Sweden’s Trelleborg Group, is committed to being at the forefront of the industry while supporting the implementation of renewable energies in manufacturing – the initiative is one of many launched across its global entities in response to current climate changes.