The right energy partnership offers the power to change

Posted on 8 May 2015 by Ruari McCallion

Advice from E.ON helped Foleshill Plating to more than double its production capacity but keep increases to its energy use to only 20%, as Chris Waterhouse told Ruari McCallion.

Foleshill Plating - metal plating
Foleshill Plating is involved in an energy-intensive and environmentally challenging sector.

Metal plating – which involves acid; zinc; chromium; nickel, and heavy metals – is an energy-intensive and environmentally challenging process.

That’s why, in 2008, after 30 years in business, Foleshill Plating Co Ltd, of Exhall, Coventry, moved markets and installed its first cathodic electro-coating line. After a second line was added in 2011, e-coating now accounts for more than 90% of its business.

And, since launching in the automotive sector in 2013, its customer list now includes names like JCB; Jaguar Land Rover; Aston Martin; McLaren, and Bentley.

While such growth is a real success story, it also presented some challenges. “We found ourselves faced with a choice: to move forward or really step back,” said Chris Waterhouse, Technical Director.

The decision was to expand significantly. A new 16,560 sq ft facility increased Foleshill’s space by more than 80% and enabled it to boost production capacity by 120%. The expansion was helped by a grant for nearly £270,000 from the Coventry and Warwickshire LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership), which is supported by the government’s Regional Growth Fund (RGF).

You don’t go into an expansion of that scale without careful planning. Foleshill got in touch with E.ON and discussed its energy needs in depth. As it relies on 160°C temperatures on its painting line, energy’s a very big issue.

“E.ON were very thorough with its analysis and quotation process,” Waterhouse said. “We were advised that we needed to upgrade our power supply by 500kW. It put in a new transformer, which has two 11KV switches and means that we now have, effectively, three isolatable supplies.”

At the same time, we installed energy-efficient equipment, including soft-start motors and the painting line’s gas-fired heating was replaced with a hot water boiler system. “We have ten motors running at a variety of loads; soft-start means that we don’t over-demand electricity, so we don’t suffer penalties,” Waterhouse explains.

E.ON Contact DetailsProduction can be monitored from anywhere with an internet connection but the biggest step forward came when the reality of its energy consumption was quantified. “We’ve boosted capacity by 120% and we’re processing production more quickly, but our energy needs have gone up by only 20%.”

E.ON has a comprehensive checklist for all businesses thinking of expanding. “About 20% of our new business customers are new starters, companies being created in the new economy, but the majority of our customer requests come from the expansion of current business” says Matthew Barrow, Business Development Manager.

Barrow advises that any business considering expansion should consider the following points:

  • Determine how much power you need, today and tomorrow – so build in future requirements.
  • Think about timescales; a big site or an installation in a complex thoroughfare might take nine months or more.
  • Be clear on WHY you want it – very few businesses are the same; we’re very happy to take the time to talk through real needs and to ensure the right solution.
  • We acknowledge that the process can be complex but it sometimes has to be; getting the solution right, first time, takes time.
  • We can manage the process all the way through from site visits and technical specifications to customer liaison, installation and even help maximizing working capital.

E.ON’s Connection Services team covers both electricity and gas infrastructure, including new connections, disconnections, power upgrades, service alterations and outlet pipework, as well as gas meter installs, upgrades and removals.