Factories are either environmentally friendly or profitable. LEMKEN disproves this prejudice, because machines are manufactured in the Lower Rhine region in an energy-efficient, sustainable and cost-conscious manner.
Viktor Lemken commissions his daughter Nicola to build a new office building. Nicola Lemken takes unusual paths for this and visits the pioneers in this field. A low-energy building with offices, reception and exhibition and training halls will be constructed, which will be completely heated and cooled by the waste heat from the neighbouring forge. The consumption costs of the “low-energy building” are approx. 77 % lower than the costs of conventional office buildings.
An energy network system and the construction of a new painting plant are being launched, the core of which is formed by so-called energy rings that recover and reuse energy at various points in the plant via heat exchangers. In addition, the waste heat can be used for the underfloor heating of the adjacent production halls and a social building. If too much energy is generated than is needed, it is stored in underground storage facilities where it can be used, for example to power up the painting plant. As a result, central energy circuits and storage facilities ensure significantly lower consumption of conventional energy sources such as gas and water. The annual savings amount to approximately 500 tons of CO₂ .
This is the size of the photovoltaic system with over 2000 solar modules and more than eleven kilometres of cabling on two of the hall roofs. The installed total output of 500 kilowatts is fed into the public grid and is sufficient to supply around 100 four-person households. In addition, the LEMKEN photovoltaic system saves 250 tons of CO₂ per year . Further systems on the remaining hall roofs are being planned.
Because LEMKEN likes its role as an energy producer and saver so much, the construction of two combined heat and power plants with a refrigerating machine and district heating network has now started. With an overall efficiency of 87 percent, the plant with its meter-high chimneys runs almost loss-free. The CHP duo and the refrigeration system generate a thermal and electrical output of 1800 kilowatts, providing the halls with heat in the winter and cool air in summer.
The latest project is a fully automated hardening and bending plant operated by two robots. It can process up to one ton of steel per hour and produce the familiar DuraMaxx wear parts, for example. Hardening is one of the core competences of a plough manufacturer and tempering the special steel purchased is LEMKEN’s best-kept secret. In contrast to conventional furnaces, the furnace technology, which is insulated with ceramic fibres, can be shut down at the weekend to save energy. The required cooling capacity for the entire plant is provided by the company’s own CHPs. In this way, up to 728 tons CO₂ can be saved.
The climate protection flag has been flying at the reception building since spring 2019. LEMKEN received the award from the Climate Alliance of the municipalities of the Wesel district for its commitment to energy efficiency and climate protection. LEMKEN will continue to develop its processes and technology continuously and efficiently in the future, because Nicola Lemken wants to remain a few steps ahead of the legislation.
Factories can be both environmentally friendly and profitable.
In addition to ecological and economic considerations, LEMKEN is also fully aware of its social responsibility.
Due to the approaching change in mobility and ever more everyday products of the manufacturers, but also as “The Agrovision Company”, we have decided to jump on the bandwagon and expand our fleet with a modern electric car.
A drive in the BMW i3 is a silent pleasure, which is accompanied by a good portion of go-kart feeling thanks to the direct steering, 170 hp and direct full torque. The kinetic energy recovery during braking additionally charges the battery while driving.
