PuK - Process Technology & Components 2024

Editorial
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
Dear Readers,
Up to now, TCO is a term that has primarily been used by manufacturers to define what users of leased products must pay
the manufacturer per unit of time. I am now expanding the scope of this definition to include the entire technical industry,
whether rented or purchased. TCO is the total cost (all costs arising) of ownership of a product, including depreciation,
energy costs, maintenance and repair costs, personnel and spare parts costs, and the necessary peripheral costs such as
administration and infrastructure.
But why am I writing about this topic? The countries of Central Europe, and Germany in particular, are undergoing demographic
change, with baby boomers retiring and younger generations unable to fill the resulting gaps in the labour market.
Another point concerns the energy supply and the available raw materials. All of which underlines why we, in Europe,
should be seeking out solutions to boost energy efficiency and remain economically significant without large reserves of
raw materials.
Well, it's actually quite simple. We need to improve and streamline everything and make it cheaper, from technology, to
our energy and resource supply, to administration. In other words, reduce the TCO according to my new definition - and
preferably with the help of AI.
If we want to sell our products going forward, they will have to be highly energy efficient with an extended service life, given
that our competitors can offer existing technology more cheaply. We should feed the raw materials we have back into processes
and develop processes for them. This suggests a consistent circular economy and using materials more intentionally
at the same time. Regardless of the personnel costs, this means: Reducing costs while achieving high quality. Whatever
AI can do to help us, it should: Write letters, analyse data and issue control commands in normal processes. Staff should be
deployed where control, creativity and sophisticated expertise are required. This could help underpin our future.
So we’ve selected the articles in this issue to highlight efficiencies in a range of areas and show you how you - too -
can further streamline your company and products to remain competitive going forward.
Kind regards,
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Eberhard Schlücker
Prof. (ret.), advisor on hydrogen and energy issues
PROCESS TECHNOLOGY & COMPONENTS 2024
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