In the October edition of the magazine “Südwestfälische Wirtschaft”, a publication of the South Westphalian Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Hagen, we present our new lighting concept on pages 42 and 43.

The article in full:

The matter of light

With a new lighting concept, Rudolf von Scheven GmbH from Sprockhövel aims to save a significant amount of energy and money in the future. The company was supported by the SIHK Network for Energy and Resource Efficiency.

More than 70 percent savings – a figure that is truly impressive. Rudolf von Scheven GmbH will achieve this figure in the final expansion stage, thanks to its new lighting system in the production and storage halls. “It will take approximately four years for the investment in the new lighting to pay for itself,” explains Dr. Mathias Wullstein, Managing Partner of the company.

Five halls were equipped with the new lighting system this year. “We started with our oldest buildings, where electricity consumption from lighting was extremely high,” says Tobias Klein, who oversees the entire project within the company. The oldest hall still in operation dates back to the 1950s. It took six months to gradually convert the halls to the new LED lighting. “Among other features, the new lamps are dimmable. The reference value is based on the natural light source, so the light adjusts according to sunlight,” Klein explains. In addition, the different areas in the halls can be controlled separately. “In the storage halls, the lights no longer need to be on all day when no one is there, as was previously the case. We have now installed presence detectors there.” Of course, occupational health and safety regulations must not be overlooked in all of this.

LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCE

“Many employees initially have the feeling that it is darker than before, when in fact it is demonstrably brighter at the workstations based on measured values. This is because the light used to shine on the ceiling as well, where no one needs it,” says Dr. Wullstein. “However, we also have the option to retrofit workstations if it is too dark for the employee. We have already done this in one or two places.” In general, the entire system is being gradually optimized bit by bit. “Experience will show many things now. There is certainly still room for optimization.”
For this reason, the company also decided to focus entirely on this project in 2018. “We want to use this year to gain experience and only then continue elsewhere.”

CONTINUING IN 2019

In 2019, the newer halls in Sprockhövel, which were built in 2008, will be converted. Here too, there are opportunities to achieve high savings through newer lighting, even though the construction was not that long ago. “Although it will take longer for the investment to pay for itself here than in the older halls, as a family business we are also satisfied with longer timeframes. We act strategically for the future of the company,” explains Dr. Mathias Wullstein. The Sprockhövel company also received help and advice from the partners of the SIHK Network for Energy and Resource Efficiency. Ten companies decided in 2015 to jointly review and improve their energy and resource efficiency over a four-year period. The network enables sustainable and comprehensive professional consulting for the companies.

The focus is on a joint consideration of energy and material consumption. “We were able to exchange ideas with the other entrepreneurs here and learn from the experiences of others,” says Wullstein. He then assigned the entire project to Tobias Klein, who actually works in purchasing. “This position in the company is simply well connected, and that is very important for something like this.”

NEW IDEAS ALREADY

When the “lighting” project is fully implemented, the entrepreneur already has a new idea. The waste heat from the compressors in the newer halls is to be used for heating in winter to save energy. In summer, on the other hand, the heat is to be discharged outside to extend the service life of the compressor and reduce heat and noise pollution. The family business, which is managed in the third generation, currently has 60 employees. The company was founded in 1937 and produced valves for mining. Ball valves have been produced in Sprockhövel since the 1950s.
The company now operates worldwide and has focused on industry – due to developments in mining – because ball valves are needed “wherever pipelines need to be shut off”.

Desirée Jacobi (Südwestfälische Wirtschaft)