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Project title

Investigation and Implementation of Environmental Benefits and Energy Efficiency

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

CEL

Lead Applicant

Shane Mooney

Project Abstract

CEL will use an alternative coating applied to PCBs to protect them from moisture to End-of-Life and investigate its production implications. We shall examine a water based coating substitute for the VOC based coating current being used. CEL emits 3 tonnes of VOCs per annum from this process and volumes are set to double. The water based alternatives would reduce VOC emissions from this to negligible quantities. CEL will also modify equipment to minimise waste from the process. Under Directive 1999/13/EC there are proposals for i'Mini-IPCi systems and licence fees for companies using materials with VOC constituents. CEL would come under this directive and therefore want to evaluate an alternative under production and use criteria. CEL would apply the coating to a sample of boards and have the current solvent based and proposed water based coatings analysed under salt spray and vibration tests to validate their durability during use phase. In Automotive electronics it is important for CEL to prepare for imminent legislation including WEEE EOLV and the VOC regulations to remain competitive.CEL wishes to reduce the energy used in operations by improving heating and compressor efficiency. Compressed operating air pressure will be reduced by 1 Bar from 7.5 Bar average to save energy. Install a heat recovery system to utilise heat output from compressors. Under the efficiency element there is a potential annual saving of i?13500 per annum. These estimates are broken down under heating efficiency improvement heat recovery system and efficiency / reduction of operational air pressure. Payback on the necessary investments is calculated at approximately 2 years on current expenditure.In order to tackle the elimination of waste arising from packaging CEL will be requesting a new customer to accept returnable packaging. This would entail approximately 500 returnable boxes in a loop between CEL and the customer overseas. Benefits are self evident in the case of returnable packaging. This will eliminate many tonnes of cardboard packaging currently used by CEL. The elimination comes at a time when other customers are surveying CEL contribution to their waste. This could have negative cost implications for CEL and the above actions would address this situation.

Grant Approved

�45,476.99

Research Hub

Cleaner Production - Green Enterprise - Innovation and Demonstration

Research Theme

n/a

Start Date

n/a

Initial Projected Completion Date

n/a