The green technology challenge

The deployment of green technology is taking on a more critical tone throughout the region. Daytime energy used in the summer in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is experiencing 12 percent growth this year. Commercially, a lot of steps are being taken to reduce the region’s carbon footprint with investments in insulation programs, effective water efficiency and waste management initiatives.

Waste to energy outlook in the Middle East
High population growth, rapid urbanisation and economic expansion are not only pumping consumption and growth but are also generating massive amounts of waste. Countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait are considered the world’s largest waste producers on per capita waste generation basis, accounting for more than 2 kilograms per day. The gross urban waste generation from Middle East countries is estimated at more than 150 million tonnes annually.

Energy saving initiatives
As the market evolves to be more environmentally friendly, efforts to provide renewable processing and packaging solutions are progressing right alongside with it.

Al Bayader International’s quest to be more environmentally conscious began as early as 2002 when the company introduced and implemented a host of eco-friendly products and initiatives in their market offering and production processes. Over thelast decade, the company has consistently been able to provide consumers with the option of choosing a wide range of eco-friendly products and with new machinery being installed and new technology in place.

“Al Bayader International has installed a brand new twin screw sheet line for our PET, PP AND PS applications. Up to 30 percent energy saving, faster sheet output and higher quality of the sheets which translate into better material dispersion are a few advantages of the twin screw sheet line,” said Nidal Haddad, CEO, Al Bayader International.

The company has adopted the servo drive motor systems on all its thermoforming and sheet line machines as they are 40 percent energy efficient compared to hydraulic systems. “The servo system allows the pumps to deliver oil on demand as required for each stage of the process. As a result, the system requires less energy for part production and oil cooling and ejects less heat into the plant, creating cost savings that provide a faster return on investment compared to hydraulic platforms,” Mr. Haddad explains.

Today Al Bayader is constantly on the lookout for new and innovative ways to reduce, reuse and recycle - the three pillars of conservation - from controlling the in-house scrap through FDA approved ABC technology in its production line (B the middle layer consists of factory in-house scrap and two layers of virgin material A on the surfaces in an ABA sandwich compound) to more efficient energy consumption machinery.

Innovative technologies
The subject of energy efficiency has taken a serious turn globally as well. It is embedded in the philosophies of manycompanies, Arburg being a case in point. In keeping with the company’s maxim “Arburg for efficient injection moulding”, the company operates with the objective to increase efficiency among its customers with its products and consulting services. “When developing and enhancing products for the mAdidas Fotballsko