The Cavagna Group is aware of the fact that it operates in an industrial and manufacturing sector which has a potentially high environmental impact. For this reason, the Group cannot just focus on economic returns: it also has to safeguard the environment and natural resources, for everyone’s sake and for the very planet we live on. A concrete example of this commitment is the recovery of metal chips during crucial manufacturing stages in the LPG Valve Manufacturing Division.
Every machining center within the plant is connected to a system that collects wastewater, formed by brass chips immersed in water emulsified with oil, which then flows into a settling tank. The metal part is centrifuged in order to reduce emulsion residues to less then 5%, and then it is stored in silos before being sent to the wire drawing department. The hydraulic oil is then extracted from the lubricant coolant, filtered from the suspended metal particulates and sent back into the manufacturing machines. The muddy sediment is distilled to separate the oil from the residual water, thereby allowing for wastewater disposal.
Thus, the goal of the LPG Valve Manufacturing Division is to balance economic interests with environmental protection. It is important to note that the Cavagna Group is committed to applying this innovative concept of a circular economy to its future projects as well.
THE RECOVERY OF METAL CHIPS: A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A SUSTAINABLE CIRCULAR ECONOMY IMPLEMENTED BY THE CAVAGNA GROUP.
The Cavagna Group is fully aware that ecological and environmental issues are becoming more and more important. For this reason, the Group is always looking to increase its own commitment, primarily by promoting the use of LPG and CNG in a number of applications. The Cavagna Group’s commitment to eco-sustainability also concerns its own in-house activities, starting from the emissions of its plants. To that end, the Group conducted a specific, in-depth study of greenhouse gas emissions from its manufacturing facilities in order to have a better understanding of the company’s emission sources and identify areas in which they can be reduced. The study was conducted in accordance with the ISO 14064-1: 2012 standard. In this regard, not only does the Group work in full compliance with Italian and European environmental regulations, but it has also launched several initiatives to prevent, manage and reduce the environmental impact that is directly and indirectly linked to its manufacturing activities.
The Group’s main plant, which is located in Calcinato (Brescia), has implemented its certified environmental management system in accordance with the ISO 14001 standard. In addition, the Cavagna Group uses renewable energy sources in some of its manufacturing plants in order to minimize greenhouse gas emissions, which is generally considered one of the most important environmental challenges worldwide. A photovoltaic system has been installed on the roof of the main plant, with 1,856 high-efficiency modules made of monocrystalline silicon covering a surface area of 3,080 m2. Moreover, a combined heat and power (CHP) system has been adopted for the production of energy from biomass (crude vegetable oil), with a rated power of 420 kW (electric) and 380 kW (thermal). The CHP system produces about 3.15 GWh of electricity per year, and thanks to an absorption unit, the heat recovered from the CHP engine is used for heating the plant in the winter and cooling it in summer. Energy consumption at the Calcinato plant is also constantly monitored in order to identify further areas that could be improved: for example, some compressors have recently been replaced with more efficient ones, all the lighting systems in the plant have been equipped with energy-saving dimmers, and in some areas LED light bulbs have been installed.
These concrete choices have already led to positive and verifiable results, but the Cavagna Group is not stopping there. The company is working on new ways to promote sustainability as part of a broader commitment to corporate ethics, not only in Italy but also in all of its subsidiaries worldwide-and Cavagna is confident that the Group and all of its employees will come to be recognized for their efforts.