Out with the old ...

• Old and outdate transformers can themselves be a burden on budgets
• Replacing them with modern units can boost efficiency

Large factories and businesses running heavy machinery sometimes employ outdated, ad-hoc solutions which can be a drain on budgets. Companies specialising in metal production, for example, can need up to 400V three-phase alternating current, instead of the standard level of 230V, to meet the heavy demands of the industrial machinery involved.

 One German company, Metalltechnik Menges GmbH, dealt with this problem in a special way. The firm only had access to a medium-voltage grid of 20 000V to meet its machinery's power demands. To reduce the grid's voltage, they used a transformer near the building to deliver the required 400V.

Transformer efficiency is known to have a substantial impact on total energy consumption. As Metalltechnik Menges transformer dated back to 1980, the company was keen to replace it.

Key benefits

 By replacing the transformer with a new, highly efficient model, the company is able to save 5000 kWh per year. And the payback time on the initial investment is just six years.