Sustainability report 2019

43 AAK Uruguay and AAK Brazil .HHSLQJ RLO ÀRZLQJ ZLWK LQFUHDVHG HQHUJ\ HI¿FLHQF\ Contributes to: (QHUJ\ HI¿FLHQF\ FRQWLQXHV WR EH D WRS SULRULW\ DW VLWHV across the AAK Group. We learn a lot by exchanging knowledge between the sites, where many inventive solutions are continuously introduced. One such solution, aimed at reducing energy consumption through HOHFWULFDO KHDW WUDFLQJ ZDV ¿UVW WULHG DV D SLORW SURJUDP at our site in Uruguay in 2014. Vegetable fats must be kept in a liquid state in order to pump and transport them throughout their multiple production processes. In order to keep the fats in a OLTXLG VWDWH SLSLQJ DQG ¿WWLQJV WKDW WUDQVSRUW WKH RLOV must maintain temperatures of approximately 10 to 15°C above the melting point of the fat. This requires energy. Why electrical heat tracing? Electrical heat tracing is one of many complex solutions that can be employed to ensure the minimal amount of energy is used in maintaining the liquid state of the fats. Based on the promising results of the pilot project in Uruguay, it was decided in 2016 to expand the project at this site to include 631 lineal meters of piping DQG SXPSV UHODWHG WR WKH ¿QDO SURGXFW WDQN \DUG DQG manifolds as well as those related to the boxing and bulk loading units. As a result of this project, energy consumption was reduced by more than 75 percent compared to the previously used steam tracing methods. 'XULQJ WKH ¿UVW KDOI RI D VHFRQG SKDVH RI HOHF - trical heat tracing installation was carried out, achieving a reduction in energy consumption of more than 75 percent for more than 1,200 lineal meters of electrical tracing. Sharing best practices The electrical heat tracing solution is now also being used for the new piping installed at the site in Jundiaí, Brazil. The electrical system can be considered a truly smart solution, positively impacting energy usage as well as production contingency and cost of energy per ton of product. By replacing the original water tracing system, electrical heat tracing has also helped reduce clogs in piping, which previously accounted for around 70 percent of lost production time at the Jundiaí site. “Optimization of energy consumption and reduction RI JHQHUDWHG HIÀXHQWV DQG ZDVWH DUH WZR IXQGDPHQWDO aspects of our work today. Traditional heating solutions for vegetable fat production use an excessive amount of energy. Therefore, exploring smart energy consumption alternatives is crucial in the frame of AAK’s sustainability DQG RSHUDWLRQDO HI¿FLHQF\ SURJUDPV´ VD\V 0DUWLQ *LO Technical and Operations Director AAK South Latin America (Uruguay and Brazil). One step closer to sustainability The successful electrical heat tracing project in South America brings us closer to meeting our ambitions to minimize our environmental footprint. At the same time, the project is aligned with our goals for operational HI¿FLHQF\ :LWK HQYLURQPHQWDO SURWHFWLRQ UHPDLQLQJ D key issue for AAK throughout 2020 and beyond, we aim to further investigate the possibilities for electrical heat tracing and advance even further towards being a truly sustainable business.