Socomec aims to recover 80% of industrial waste by 2030

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Socomec aims to recover 80% of industrial waste by 2030

Socomec aims to recover 80% of industrial waste by 2030

Interviews
Jan 22,24

In this interview with Rakesh Rao, Meenu Singhal, Regional MD, Socomec Innovative Power Solutions, elaborates on the changes taking place in the manufacturing sector as companies aim to reduce their environmental impact.

Socomec aims to recover 80% of industrial waste by 2030

As a result of increasing awareness about environment, the global marketplace is increasingly demanding sustainable and eco-friendly products. Manufacturers who develop green products are able to position their brand better and have a clear edge over competitors, says Meenu Singhal, Regional MD, Socomec Innovative Power Solutions Pvt Ltd. In this interview with Rakesh Rao, Meenu Singhal elaborates on the changes taking place in the manufacturing sector as companies aim to reduce their environmental impact.

How is the electrical equipment manufacturing sector transforming with climate change gaining traction?

The electrical sector is adopting quickly to the technologies like IoT and remote monitoring. The entire sector is moving towards a sustainable and resilient energy landscape. Using of environment friendly products like advanced lithium-ion batteries is being promoted. Many players have shifted focus completely towards green manufacturing practices and played a part in the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Adopting such measures lead to efficient use of resources and improves reliability, control and monitoring and also optimises the electrical installations.

The manufacturers are also constantly exploring ways to design products that exceed expectations in terms of energy efficiency and sustainability.

What steps are being taken by Socomec to achieve sustainability goals?

At Socomec, we are committed to reducing our environmental impact by adopting environment-friendly manufacturing processes. We have implemented various measures to reduce energy consumption and water usage. We have also implemented a waste reduction programme which includes segregation, recycling and reuse.

We are pursuing to recover 80 percent of our industrial wastes by 2030 and also, optimise the energy performance of our buildings. Through ISO 14001 certification, Socomec aims to maintain strong environmental governance and processes at its industrial sites, improve its environmental performance, and reduce environmental risks. The certified sites are audited annually, environmental risks are assessed and a strategy focusing on energy consumption optimization, waste management and CO2 emission reductions are formulated to address concerns.

With the aim to control waste and energy consumption, our manufacturing sites do not discharge any liquid effluent except for sanitary wastewater. Atmospheric emissions are minimal and do not exceed the regulatory limit values. The technical service team analyses the environmental footprint before purchasing any new equipment.

Socomec supports circular economy and is committed to collecting and sorting waste and increasing its recovery rate, monitoring the waste from all the production sites, aiming to reduce them as much as possible and promoting the recovery of bio-waste from some of our company canteens into energy and fertilisers with the help of local service providers.

Waste is sorted as soon as it is produced and is stored in specific containers before being removed. Specialised companies handle its transportation and treatment. Employees at the production sites have been made aware of the need to sort waste and the associated storage rules and they have been doing it for many years.

How is Socomec helping its customers to achieve their Net Zero emission targets?

Balancing regulatory requirements and environmental standards with the primary needs of customers to help them met Net Zero emission targets is a challenge. Keeping in mind our customers’ needs, we devise solutions and products that consume less energy and are eco-friendly. We conduct life cycle assessments to ensure minimal environmental impact and improved performance.

Socomec is an ISO 14001certified company and maintains the highest environmental management standards. Our focus will continue to be on improving our products’ sustainability performance.

We also provide our customers with reliable information regarding the environmental performance of our products through Product Environmental Profiles (PEPs) which describe the characteristics and environmental impact of our products, reiterating to our customers that Socomec products adhere to the highest environmental standards.

Why green manufacturing practices are important for India to gain competitive edge in the global marketplace?

The global marketplace increasingly demands sustainable and environment friendly products, as a result of increased awareness about environmental, social, and economic challenges that come with not adhering to it. This shift is forcing Indian manufacturers to showcase their genuine commitment towards sustainability through their manufacturing practices and products.

Moreover, only green products comply with the environmental protection and product safety regulation and all other required standards to facilitate smoother access to global markets, thus reducing the risk of legal issues and market exclusion.

Manufacturers who develop green products are able to position their brand better and have a clear edge over competitors. As a result, there is a tough mandate for Indian companies to build a strong commitment towards sustainability and attract more investments to develop the country’s economy. Moreover, countries with strong commitments to sustainability are often more attractive to foreign investors.

How critical will be the adoption of modern technologies & automation for green manufacturing?

Today’s evolving customer needs for more reliable, super-efficient and intelligent solutions, fosters innovation in product design and development by leveraging these modern technologies.

Also, the adoption of advanced technologies leads to lesser downtime, reduces wastage, increases operational efficiency and production speeds, resulting in overall cost reduction of the electrical infrastructure. These factors also help manufacturers to reduce the carbon footprint and contribute to sustainability goals.

By adopting to modern technology, manufacturers gain customer trust and establishes a competitive edge, particularly in industries where product quality is a critical factor. Many global markets have high tech standards, and the adoption of modern technologies helps Indian manufacturers meet these standards, enhancing their access to international markets.

Socomec's continuous investment in cutting-edge technology ensures unmatched UPS longevity, empowering our customers to meet sustainability goals and contribute to a greener future. One of our solutions, MODULYS XM comprises a 50 KW power module and optimized set of fully equipped systems – MODULYS XM, for 250 kW + 50 kW redundancy and MODULYS XM, for 600 kW + 50 kW redundancy. MODULYS XM’s 50 kW power modules have proven reliability of more than 1,000,000 hours MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures), as certified by a third party based on robust data - which is at least 4 times longer than the best market standards.

This recently launched product, MODULYS XM is designed with a life expectancy of 20 years making it a ‘Forever Young’ product. Under this concept, the life style extension of the UPS comes with plug-ins of modules and other subassemblies with a 20-year guaranteed compatibility. The system’s components are easy to recycle, keeping in mind the design, making it an eco-design concept. With remote troubleshooting technology, Socomec experts connect to the UPS system, run remote tests and diagnostics – all with zero transport-related carbon emissions.

How do you see the performance of the electrical equipment market in 2023? What is your expectation for 2024?

The Indian manufacturing sector has had a bumpy ride in 2023 as in the first nine months of the financial year 2023-24, the manufacturing PMI for India has fallen five times. The global PMI surveys show that new orders for goods have fallen continuously over the past one and half years. Though the situation for manufacturing sector has been bleak, the electrical industry has a soft landing in 2023.

Socomec’s efforts to understand the challenges pertaining to different types of critical power chain distribution and architecture and address them holistically has been well appreciated by our customers. We expect faster movement towards energy transition and net zero objectives. There will also be extra stress on global renewable energy capacity.

How do you plan to scale up your business “sustainably” in India?

Socomec will continue with its commitment to meet the evolving energy needs in the Asia-Pacific region by manufacturing sustainable products in India. With the ongoing increase in the data centre market and the rising demand for power backed data centres, we have recently launched Delphys XL in 2 variants - 1000 & 1200 kVA/KW UPS to meet the evolving needs in the Asia-Pacific region. The manufacturing of our Delphys XL UPS solutions at our newly opened Gurgaon factory underlines our commitment to leveraging local talent and resources while delivering superior power solutions tailored for the Data Centre industry.

Additionally, we have a structured growth plan for the years ahead. We have established robust manufacturing capabilities in India through continuous investments. India is critical for Socomec’s strategic growth in the Asia-Pacific market. We remain steadfast in our commitment to India, with ambitious plans for further innovation and expansion aimed at meeting the evolving demands of the local market. This dedication fosters progress, sustainability and technological advancements, strengthening the manufacturing ecosystems and delivering state-of-the-art solutions across diverse industries.