Energy savings

Initial Washroom Solutions has installed the award-winning GEM venturi orifice traps from Thermal Energy International.

Trialled at the company's new Reading plant, which has a number of on-site steam meters, Initial verified a 10% saving in energy consumption and 14% reduction in steam despite there being no failures with the plant's mechanical traps.

Senior engineer,Michael Butt, had past experience of the failure rate of mechanical traps and was keen to make energy and maintenance savings.He agreed to monitor the GEM steam- traps over an extensive trial period.This was achieved using the company's onsite steam-meters that are used to measure the 5- tonne boiler and other steam equipment. One meter in particular is used to measure the amount of steam consumed by Initial's eight new Revolution processing machines,which use steam to process an average of 80 to 90 towels per hour.

"These savings will provide us with a total payback within 12 months," said Michael.