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standards. We collect information on key health<br />
indicators at production sites at monthly intervals,<br />
evaluate the findings and identify site-specific<br />
measures on the basis of the information obtained.<br />
Despite an increased workload, accident<br />
statistics in <strong>2011</strong> were low, with no serious incidents<br />
on record. Measures rolled out in the year<br />
under review included training in work safety and<br />
health management, improved working conditions<br />
through modernized lighting, measuring noise<br />
levels, office refurbishment, enhanced workplace<br />
ergonomics, physiotherapy, massage and back<br />
exercise programs, and encouragement of participation<br />
in various company sports activities.<br />
Energy efficiency of products:<br />
A key starting point<br />
The main starting point for a greener approach in<br />
our corporate group is the energy consumption<br />
of the machines we supply to our customers for<br />
long decades of service. Energy consumption has<br />
been accorded insufficient attention in the past,<br />
especially in geographical areas with low energy<br />
prices. We expect energy consumption will account<br />
for a greater share of total production cost<br />
in the future. Energy efficiency in machine tools<br />
may soon become a key factor in cost effectiveness<br />
analyses across the life cycle of a machine<br />
system.<br />
That’s why Starrag Group decided early on to join<br />
in the “Blue Competence“ energy efficiency campaign<br />
of the two national machine tool industry<br />
associations of Germany and Switzerland, Verein<br />
deutscher Werkzeugmaschinenfabriken VDW<br />
and Swissmem, and to incorporate the relevant<br />
recommendations in the development of new<br />
products. The main driver of energy efficiency<br />
in workpiece machining is cycle time, however.<br />
Since the entire Starrag Group machinery portfolio<br />
stands out from the competition through higher<br />
cutting performance and, hence, shorter production<br />
times, capital expenditure on our machinery<br />
makes even more sense from the point of view of<br />
saving energy.<br />
Starrag Group <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2011</strong> 37<br />
––<br />
The entire machine system product range was<br />
made more energy efficient through eeMC (Energy<br />
Efficient Machining Center), the name given<br />
to the company’s own system. The measures<br />
range from energy efficient engines to minimization<br />
of base load losses to the use of frequencycontrolled<br />
pumps. Another important factor is<br />
a machine’s ability to meet the high precision<br />
specifications at all times over an extensive range<br />
of temperatures, which in turn reduces our customers’<br />
energy consumption as a result of less<br />
stringent requirements for temperature stability in<br />
a factory building.<br />
Our involvement in research projects in a variety<br />
of countries to raise the energy efficiency of<br />
machine tools enables us to put new insights and<br />
technologies into practice in record time.<br />
Improved environmental footprint<br />
at production sites<br />
Starrag Group implements measures to improve<br />
the environmental footprint at all of our corporate<br />
sites on an ongoing basis. Energy-lowering<br />
building refurbishment schemes contributed to a<br />
further reduction in energy consumption in <strong>2011</strong>.<br />
The paint shop uses environmentally compatible<br />
water-based coatings instead of solvent-based<br />
coatings wherever it is possible to do so. Materials<br />
and waste such as oil, grease and shavings are<br />
systematically recycled and reused. Waste treatment<br />
plants for metalworking lubricants ensure<br />
that these are properly disposed of or recycled<br />
depending on type.
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