Mitsubishi HiTec Paper, along with four other North Rhine-Westphalian paper mills and eight companies in the chemical industry, have together established the energy efficiency network ChePap Rhein-Ruhr II.
At the network's regular meetings, energy and technology managers share efficiency and technology initiatives with each other and with external experts and then implement them in their companies. As a result of the first energy efficiency network, ChePap Rhein-Ruhr I, which was also supported by the chemical and paper industries and which has now been superseded by this new initiative, efficiency gains of around 3% have been achieved.
"We are continuing our successful energy efficiency cooperation with this new initiative, because the topic is more relevant than ever," explains Gerd Finkenhofer, Energy Manager at Mitsubishi HiTec Paper. "On the one hand, very good energy efficiency naturally contributes to our goals of sustainable management and protection of the environment, but on the other hand it is also indispensable for maintaining the competitiveness of Germany's energy-intensive industry."
Martin Drews, Managing Director of the Business Association of the Rhineland-Westphalian paper-producing industry, further explains: "Reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions is a declared political goal in Germany. Our companies make their contribution within the framework of the energy efficiency network. But it must also be made clear: energy cannot be saved arbitrarily. There are technical limits and the capital for investment in action is limited."
Mitsubishi HiTec Paper Europe GmbH is a German subsidiary of Mitsubishi Paper Mills Ltd., Japan, one of the world's leading manufacturers of specialty paper. The roughly 700 employees at Mitsubishi HiTec Paper Europe produce high-quality direct thermal, digital imaging, carbonless, label and barrier papers at two tradition-rich locations in Bielefeld and Flensburg. Each factory stands out for own base paper production, state-of-the-art production machinery and innovative coating technologies. Through its dense global sales network, Mitsubishi HiTec Paper Europe supplies a full range of specialty papers featuring a modular system for every application and printing technology – and is a highly capable partner whenever customized coated paper solutions are required.
ChePap Rhein-Ruhr II: The basis for the establishment of the network is the initiative of December 2014, agreed by the Federal Government and leading German industry associations, to achieve substantial energy savings and emission reductions by 2020 by establishing 500 new efficiency networks. Energy efficient networks are associations of companies from various sectors that jointly develop and implement company-specific energy-saving measures. The energy efficiency network ChePap Rhein-Ruhr II is organized and supported by the German Chemical Industry Association in North Rhine-Westphalia and the trade association of the Rhineland-Westphalian paper producing industry. As consultants and moderators, WiRo Consultants from Aachen who successfully helped shape the first stage of the project, are continuing to supporting the network project.
