Alfa Laval Inert Gas Systems  (1)

Hygienic fluid handling technology pioneer Alfa Laval announces WHP as its latest authorised integrator, helping enhance the sustainability of the engineering solutions provider’s operations. The new partnership is the latest in a long relationship between the two companies, with knowledge being shared to manage customers’ environmental impact. By working with Alfa Laval, WHP’s clean room, clean manufacturing solutions and complex process systems will gain further visibility with the organisation’s target audiences. Turnkey process packages “This development is the latest in our strategy to expand our distribution and integration operations within the UK market,” said Leonardo Morabito, Business Unit Manager, Hygienic Fluid Handling at Alfa Laval UK and Ireland. “WHP has a sterling reputation as a world-class leader in supply and design services across a number of industries, standing out for its ability to offer ‘clean room’ managed environments and turnkey process packages. As the only authorised Alfa Laval partner within key markets, we look forward to offering WHP support providing their clients with comprehensive engineering solutions, and further strengthening our ongoing relationship.” Reducing carbon footprint This commitment has translated into the company recycling 98% of all waste produced A specialist in the modular design and turnkey projects for cleanroom construction, laboratories, R&D and suites or facilities for containment and evaluation, Gateshead-based WHP provide end-to-end design-and-build services to clients varying from blue-chips to start-ups. Following its ongoing commitment to responsible business and corporate sustainability, the engineering firm has put further reducing its carbon footprint at the forefront of its priorities. This commitment has translated into the company recycling 98% of all waste produced and reducing energy consumption by 20% over the last 12 months, alongside ISO 14001:2015 accreditation and the implementation of a mature Environmental Management System. As well as this, WHP strives to design sustainable facilities with careful consideration to materials chosen, power and water usage use, and indoor air quality. Best engineering solutions The company’s attainment of authorised integrator status is the latest in its steps to developing its sustainability strategy, and promote eco-conscious development and behaviours in its customers, workforce and larger supply chain. WHP can now make further use of Alfa Laval’s extensive in-house experience to provide internal and external upskilling, and deliver more sustainable and efficient designs to the sectors in which it operates. Ian Lichfield, CEO of WHP, added: “WHP has a long trading history with Alfa Laval and I am delighted that we are now the Alfa Laval Authorised Partner for the pharma and healthcare markets we serve. We are thrilled to be aligned with such an internationally recognised brand that stands for quality, and I am looking forward to working closely with the Alfa Laval team to enable WHP to offer customers the best engineering solutions and the highest levels of technical support.”

In April 2021, Alfa Laval announced a new partnership with Stena Recycling to introduce a groundbreaking business model for boosting circularity in the heat exchanger supply chain. The collaboration is inspired by the Circular Initiative, a business-driven collaboration arena in circularity led by Stena Recycling. Titled “Re-Made to matter”, the new initiative will make it possible to upgrade to a more energy-efficient heat exchanger and get a refund on an old one, which will then be recycled. The two companies can now reveal that the exchange programme is set to roll out this week in Sweden, with other countries soon to follow. “This is a win-win-win for our customers, society and the environment,” says Fredrik Ekström, President Business Unit Brazed & Fusion Bonded Heat Exchangers, Energy Division at Alfa Laval. “With the refund incentive to upgrade to more modern, efficient plate heat exchangers, businesses can greatly reduce their energy consumption. In a recent example, we calculated that replacing one 20-year-old heat exchanger would lead to total annual energy savings of up to 83,000 kWh. On top of improved long-term costs, this means a significant reduction in CO2 emissions.” "And this is really just the start of the sustainability improvements,” continues Fredrik Pettersson, Managing Director of Stena Recycling Sweden. “When we receive the returned heat exchanger from the customer, we start the recycling process to recover metals and reintroduce them into the supply chain of raw material, providing environmental gains by decreasing the demand for virgin materials. Working together in this way, we can help close the loop and create a truly effective circular approach for this industry.” A unique industry model To make these sustainability benefits possible, Alfa Laval and Stena Recycling have developed an entirely new type of business model for the HVAC industry. In addition to helping to achieve decarbonization through increased energy efficiency, the programme has also been designed to accelerate the transition from a linear supply chain to a sustainable, circular one. "In the traditional, linear supply chain, the end of a heat exchanger’s lifecycle represents the end of life for the valuable natural resources it is composed of,” explains Fredrik Ekström. “With this programme, our partners at Stena Recycling can recover up to 100% of the metals from the customers’ old heat exchangers, thereby minimising the use of virgin materials needed for manufacturing our new heat exchangers.” The process works as follows: Prospective customers visit Alfa Laval’s website, where a new, intuitive online tool provides a recommendation for a heat exchanger upgrade based on their current model The customer receives an upfront refund, corresponding to the recycling value of their old heat exchanger The old heat exchanger is sent to Stena Recycling, where the metals are recovered The recycled material is re-processed, re-coiled and enters the supply chain again to potentially become a new, energy-efficient heat exchanger Re-Made to matter starts at home The first country where customers will be able to participate is Sweden, where both partners are based To highlight the many benefits of the exchange programme, Alfa Laval and Stena Recycling have launched the initiative under the heading “Re-Made to matter.” The first country where customers will be able to participate is Sweden, where both partners are based. "Alfa Laval and Stena Recycling are two of the leading innovators in our respective fields, and our organizations have deep roots in Sweden,” adds Fredrik Ekström. “We are very excited to be launching ‘Re-Made to matter’ here at home. We are looking forward to showing customers here and ultimately around the world the power of our combined expertise and passion for sustainability. Not only is this a first big step toward circularity in heating and cooling, but it is also a major step in tackling climate change in our industry, supporting Alfa Laval’s aim to become carbon neutral by 2030.” The rest of the Nordic region will soon join Sweden in being able to take part, and plans are underway to introduce the programme in other markets throughout the year.

The convenience and efficiency of Alfa Laval AQUA fresh water generation technology is now available to a wider range of vessels. With its tiny footprint and low OPEX, the new AQUA Blue Mini fresh water generator meets needs of 1 – 18 cubic metres of fresh water per day, creating a smarter alternative to bunkered water or reverse osmosis. AQUA fresh water generation technology AQUA fresh water generation technology uses a revolutionary 3-in-1 process Introduced in 2008, AQUA fresh water generation technology uses a revolutionary 3-in-1 process, where evaporation, separation and condensation occur in a single plate pack. Compact and energy-efficient, this game-changing technology can now be used to meet smaller needs. “AQUA technology has a history of making things smaller and simpler,” said Serdar Sengun, Head of Marine Heat Transfer Sales at Alfa Laval. Serdar Sengun adds, “The AQUA Blue fresh water generator cut seawater needs and electrical power consumption in half compared to previous solutions. The AQUA Blue Mini nearly cuts size in half again, but above all it brings AQUA benefits to the smallest capacity range.” AQUA Blue Mini fresh water generator In the years since its launch, the AQUA Blue fresh water generator has become a preferred choice for vessels with a larger need of fresh water. Able to produce up to 60 cubic metres of high-quality fresh water per day, the AQUA Blue C-type and S-type fresh water generators offer major space and energy savings over previous fresh water generators. For vessels that require fewer cubic metres of fresh water, however, the capital investment in AQUA technology has sometimes outweighed the efficiency. This changes with the AQUA Blue Mini fresh water generator, which is specifically designed for 1–18 m3 per day. “For vessels with smaller needs, such as those previously served by the Alfa Laval JWP fresh water generators, the AQUA Blue Mini balances capital cost with capacity,” said Serdar Sengun, adding “They get an equally efficient and reliable solution, but with an even smaller footprint and a lower capital investment.” Vessels can abandon bunkering and reverse osmosis Bunkering water takes time and requires space, and the water’s quality is never certain" In fact, the AQUA Blue Mini will be attractive to a whole new range of customers, including some who have never previously considered a thermally driven fresh water generator. Local fishing boats and smaller coastal vessels, for example, now have a smaller, smarter alternative to bunkered water or reverse osmosis. “Bunkering water takes time and requires space, and the water’s quality is never certain,” said Serdar Sengun, adding “Reverse osmosis solves some of that, but it’s a sensitive process that clogs easily and demands lots of filter and membrane changes. The AQUA Blue Mini can make life much simpler on these vessels, giving them easy, constant access to high-quality fresh water.” Less energy, effort and OPEX In contrast, to reverse osmosis, which is electrically driven, the AQUA Blue Mini fresh water generator runs on waste heat and uses only a small amount of electrical power. Moreover, its maintenance is limited to occasional Cleaning-In-Place (CIP) and fast, easy changes of the non-glued gaskets. Together, these facts mean lower OPEX for any vessel. Alfa Laval’s Serdar Sengun concludes, “Whether customers need one, ten or fifteen cubic metres per day, they’ll find an easy and cost-effective solution in the AQUA Blue Mini. Customers can count on high-quality fresh water, with a minimal footprint, minimal power consumption and minimal effort as well.”