CMZ has been recognised as the winner in the "Design and Manufacture of Machines at 4 Bar" category at the 1st "4 Bar Factory" Sustainability Contest, organised by SMC. Developed collaboratively with SMC, the award-winning project on a TTS series lathe achieved significant improvements in efficiency, air consumption, and pressure management during production.
On March 27, SMC's facilities in Vitoria, Spain, hosted the awards ceremony for the First "4 Bar Factory" Sustainability Contest. This pioneering event brought together industry professionals to exchange insights on advancing sustainable production practices. The event was presided over by the Ambassador of Japan to Spain, Takahiro Nakamae, alongside senior executives from SMC.
During the ceremony, SMC emphasised that adopting the "4 Bar Factory" strategy can reduce users energy costs associated with compressed air by up to 50%. As a testament to its success, CMZ was honoured in the "Design and Manufacture of Machines at 4 Bar" category. CMZ's Managing Director, Iñaki Zumarraga, presented the details of the collaborative project, showcasing improvements made to the TTS series' blow air systems. This achievement marks a significant milestone, reinforcing CMZ's dedication to efficient and sustainable manufacturing.
The award-winning initiative focused on a lathe from CMZ's TTS series. Working closely with SMC's technical team, a PF38A flowmeter was installed to monitor pneumatic consumption and identify areas for improvement. The analysis revealed a pressure drop that occasionally activated the pressure switch and triggered alarms, particularly in the blow-off systems for the chuck and collet chuck.
Originally operating at 7 bar pressure with an annual air consumption of 39.3 ML, the lathe underwent several key enhancements:
Following these improvements, results were immediate:
From an environmental standpoint, these enhancements are projected to cut emissions related to air consumption by 39%, equating to an estimated annual saving of up to 539 kg of CO₂. This could reduce overall compressed air emissions at the customer's plant by up to 16%.
Initiatives like "4 Bar Factory" are vital for offering the industry tangible, transformative solutions. CMZ's recognition at this contest highlights the company's ongoing commitment to sustainable manufacturing. By producing over 80% of its lathe components in-house, CMZ not only ensures quality control but also reduces its carbon footprint. The company's integrated process management further allows it to implement innovative, environmentally conscious practices, reaffirming its dedication to building a more environmentally responsible and sustainable industrial future.
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