THE IMPORTANCE OF BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP IN SUSTAINABLE ENAMEL COST REDUCTION APPLICATION
Jack Nicholson – Escol Products

Abstract
The paper firstly addresses Sustainable Development issues and the responsibilities of companies to address economic growth, environmental protection, and social development within their local community. The importance of S.M.E’s (Small to Medium Companies) in addressing the broad issues of sustainable development is highlighted. The paper continues to show how industry can go beyond regulation compliance to yield real benefits in the efficient use of energy, materials, and water by dealing with the issues at the design and production stages. Today business sectors and governments are becoming more sensitive to social, environmental and ethical standards as consumer’s expectations for companies to act responsibly in these areas are demonstrated. It is also shown how companies can benefit by reducing waste. How vitreous enamel continues to be the best way of protecting steel is defined, and how best it satisfies sustainable development criteria. A typical impact assessment on a vitreous enamel user is shown. Reducing energy and waste is identified as a broad issue for enamellers. Escol’s approach to a cleaner way ahead is graphically demonstrated. The impact on the environment is established listing the improvements in recent years.
The Escol energy reduction programme is examined in detail:
Optimised auto programmes for gas/oxygen mix for all products.
Electronic skids and data loggers. Investment in flat fire burners. Improved yields, reduced gas/oxygen levels. Shorter batch times.
Automatic dampers on kiln exhausts – optimises energy utilisation.
Focus on right first time quality.) The waste minimisation programme and productivity improvement at Escol is graphically demonstrated.

Introduction
Waste minimisation

Waste minimisation

The paper, up to new, focuses on the needs (i.e. The key issues for Sustainable Development are recognised) and identifies possible solutions by describing one company’s response to the internal challenge. The presentation now identifies the importance of successful business partnerships to the achievement of sustainable enamel cost reduction initiatives.

Successful business partners

Partnership with academia
Essential links with Universities and other Centres of Excellence

Partnership with customers
Enamel Cooker Market
Key elements are identified: Our business is dependent on our ability to understand the customers manufacturing requirements.
To design innovative products and process systems that complies with legislative and consumer standards at a competitive price.
As a result we operate in a very dynamic market situation as we strive to achieve manufacturing excellence by the use of simplified process solutions in order to reduce cost in all areas of the business.

Labour material energy overheads
Business success principles
Pre-requisites for sustainable relationship with enamel users

Operational efficiency determines level of profit when all of above elements are satisfied. The key
factors and agreed process success principles are cited. The establishing of customer and enamel
supplier agreed an objective is a primary consideration. These objectives are examined in critical
detail and include:

Less tangible benefits

Business partnerships
Through product and process optimisation
Users will achieve:
High right first time
Low scrap
Less waste
Waste in future will have to be recyclable.
Waste will have to be recyclable?
Landfill directive: There are two very significant national waste policy principles that would encourage the development of sustainable solutions. The first is that treatment of waste close to source is actively encouraged through the proximity principle;
And the second is that there is still a need to find alternatives to landfill if Britain is to meet its obligations under the Landfill Directive

Sign up for alternative waste routes as soon as possible The UK will not have enough alternative waste management resources to deal with demand. “Prices are expected to dramatically increase”.

Summary
Suppliers will have an increasing responsibility from cradle to grave. Suppliers to the UK market will have ownership and cost burden of customers enamel waste disposal.
In designing 100 recyclable vitreous enamel products and process systems we are protecting our industry for future generations.