Displaying items by tag: BUCKMAN

In 2012, Buckman, a US-headquartered specialty chemical company, partnered with Energy Drive with a goal of reducing electricity usage and water consumption at Buckman’s Hammarsdale, South Africa facility. Energy Drive is a company that forges partnerships with organizations to reduce energy consumption in a sustainable manner, with minimal capital investment requirements. Together, the two saw an opportunity to monitor Buckman’s primary cooling tower to help the company achieve sustainable environmental benefits.

The cooling tower system comprises two fans and two pumps, which originally ran at maximum speed for 24 hours per day every week from Monday morning until Saturday morning, even when water temperatures were sufficient for process requirements.

Once Energy Drive’s energy-saving solution was installed on the four motors; sensors provided variable frequency drives with the information necessary to regulate the speed of the motors depending on the temperature required. Now, when the system reaches the desired temperature, the pumps and fans slow to the optimal speed to ensure that energy is not wasted.

As the systems have been in place for 10 years, Buckman has realized many benefits of this technology. “The low monthly service charge is completely offset by the energy savings we gain from the variable speed drives,” said Mukesh Ramatar, Plant Manager for Buckman South Africa. “But even more important are the positive environmental impacts we’ve seen from the solution - they are the real driver of the value we see.”

Energy Drive’s David Classens presents Buckman South Africa’s Mukesh Ramatar, Plant Manager, and Rolf Breidenbach, General Manager, with a milestone achievement certificate. The certificate was awarded in recognition of Buckman surpassing 4.0M kWh of energy saved. This equates to 4.16M kg of CO2 eliminated, 5.5M liters of water saved and 2.74M kg of coal and ash not used or generated.

In 2022, Buckman received a milestone achievement certificate from Energy Drive. In collaboration with the company, Buckman has surpassed the milestone of 4.0M kWh hours in energy saved. This equates to 4.16M kg of CO₂ eliminated, 5.5M liters of water saved and 2.74M kg of coal and ash not used or generated.

"It has been a privilege working with Buckman, actualizing sustainability on their behalf,” says Mark Milne, General Manager for Energy Drive South Africa. “The focus on ESG targets over recent years highlights the importance of these kinds of projects. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Together we have a greater impact."

The variable speed drives also add an extra layer of protection to motor and pump systems by allowing the pump to gradually ramp up to the speed required by the process, rather than starting and operating at 100% speed. Operating the motor and pump at less than full speed reduces the flow and pressure created by the pump meaning excess flow and pressure do not need to be dissipated in the system. When less strain is put on the pumps it not only protects the equipment, but also reduces the energy consumed by the system.

“One of the best things about variable speed drives is that they could be installed across all cooling tower systems and chiller systems globally,” said Ramatar. “Which could exponentially impact our energy savings and sustainability efforts. We look forward to continuing our close relationship with Energy Drive and are proud to continue reaching and surpassing sustainability milestones.”

About Buckman

Buckman is completely committed to helping our customers succeed, regardless of the challenges facing them, the industry they operate in or their location in the world. To fulfill that commitment, we surround our rigorously trained industry experts with the highest-quality chemicals, the latest smart technology and advanced data analysis. All focused on helping our customers’ operations improve productivity, increase profitability and ensure safety, compliance and sustainability. That’s more than chemistry. That’s Chemistry, connected.

About Energy Drive

Energy Drive partners with companies from a range of major industries to actualize their energy-related sustainability goals. Using variable speed drives to reduce our clients’ energy consumption and achieve more efficient operations, we also lower energy-related business costs. We achieve this by removing the barriers to energy optimization by taking on the risk and staying invested with our clients for the long term. By purchasing the required equipment, installing it, and ensuring that it runs effectively for as long as it’s on a client’s site, we have founded an innovative, fully-engineered, turnkey sustainability solution executed via a zero-capex service contract. It’s our way of providing sustainability as a service.

Buckman, a privately-held, global company specializing in innovative chemistry and smart solutions, announced global price increases for all product offerings. The price increases will become effective April 1, 2022, or as customer contracts allow.

Price increases will vary depending on geographic region, solutions offered and market(s) served. In some areas, increases may be higher where local conditions may necessitate additional adjustments.

These unprecedented increases are required due to additional market increases for raw materials, energy, packaging, fuel and logistics costs.  Current cost pressure is unlike anything that has been seen in the history of the specialty chemical sector.  Proper price management will ensure continued supply of Buckman products to its existing customer base.

Buckman continues to drive operational excellence throughout the organization with the goal of minimizing the impact of supply chain disruptions and cost increases.

About Buckman

Buckman is completely committed to helping our customers succeed, regardless of the challenges facing them, the industry they operate in or their location in the world. To fulfill that commitment, we surround our rigorously-trained industry experts with the highest-quality chemicals, the latest smart technology, and advanced data analysis. All focused on helping our customers’ operations improve productivity, increase profitability, and ensure safety, compliance, and sustainability. That is more than chemistry. That is Chemistry, connected.

Buckman, the specialty chemical company known for its relentless focus to deliver innovative solutions for customers in paper manufacturing, water treatment, process chemistry, and leather processing, announced a new suite of immersive digital technology that combines artificial, augmented, and mixed reality capabilities. Supported by Buckman’s expanding Ackumen™ platform, Ackumen Connected Reality enables Buckman personnel and customers to see, collaborate and solve problems remotely, dramatically reducing response time, errors, costs, and downtime.

“The pandemic only magnified the need for us to be able to collaborate and solve problems remotely,” said Dr. NM Rao, chief digital officer of Buckman. “Ackumen Connected Reality enables us to provide our customers with access to subject matter experts anywhere in the world to resolve, in just hours, issues that may have otherwise taken weeks with an in-person visit.”

Beyond collaborating remotely, Ackumen Connected Reality leverages 3D models and holograms that enable customers to make accurate space planning and logistical decisions prior to equipment installation, ensuring a smooth and surprise-free set-up which saves time and money from the start. Additionally, Ackumen Connected Reality provides documented guidance and access to expert advice via augmented reality technology so customers can solve routine maintenance, repairs, and operations (MRO) issues faster.

“We anticipate the continued need for remote collaboration post-pandemic and are excited about being able to offer this to our customers.” said Rao.

To learn more about Ackumen Connected Reality from Buckman, visit

https://www.buckman.com/smart-technology/ackumen-connected-reality/

About Buckman

Buckman is completely committed to helping our customers succeed, regardless of the challenges facing them, the industry they operate in or their location in the world. To fulfill that commitment, we surround our rigorously trained industry experts with the highest-quality chemicals, the latest smart technology, and advanced data analysis. All focused on helping our customers’ operations improve productivity, increase profitability, and ensure safety, compliance, and sustainability. That is more than chemistry. That is Chemistry, connected.