"For medium-sized industrial companies, the purchase of energy is currently developing into an expensive challenge through no fault of their own. The result is an inflationary spiral, which the customer has to pay first and the consumer in the end. Therefore, there is an urgent need for sustainable regulation in order to relieve the companies financially," explains Dirk Howe, Managing Director of Siempelkamp Giesserei. He adds: "Such an industrial electricity price was explicitly promised by the parties of the current federal government during last year's election campaign. Now would be the best opportunity to keep the promise as unbureaucratically as possible." In addition to a fair and sensible distribution of the available energy quantities, an industrial price would be an important instrument to stop further energy price explosions and to promote market economy stability.
Introduction of an industrial electricity price would have several advantages
The situation of small and medium-sized industry is very tense due to the extreme price jumps for energy, raw materials and delivery costs. The purchase of electricity or materials has become hardly calculable for companies. Siempelkamp Foundry forecasts additional electricity costs in the seven-digit range for this year. "We are at the top of long value chains. Our additional costs are passed on within diverse industries and sectors such as the energy, automotive, construction and consumer goods industries and then continue to increase. One-off relief packages for consumers are just a drop in the ocean," complains Siempelkamp Foundry Managing Director Dr. Georg Geier. An industrial electricity price capped by government regulation could eliminate this problem in the long term and reduce production costs significantly. Siempelkamp Foundry sees this efficient instrument as the best way to permanently maintain industrial competitiveness and to effectively relieve consumers. "If green electricity were also primarily used for this industrial electricity, industry in Germany would additionally take a big step towards sustainability and the energy transition," explains Geier. A reliable industrial electricity price is an important driver for the transformation of industry away from fossil fuels to electricity-based processes.
Siempelkamp Foundry is a world leader in energy efficiency
With an annual electrical energy demand of more than 50 gigawatt hours, the Siempelkamp Foundry is one of the most energy-intensive companies in Germany. The electricity consumption corresponds to that of a small town with 20,000 inhabitants. The electricity is needed to melt the iron before it is poured into the mould. Thanks to digital interfaces and energy management systems, the foundry has achieved a top position worldwide in its energy efficiency in recent years. "We cover more than half of our energy needs with green electricity, and our own photovoltaic system is in the planning stage. Really nowhere else in the world, except in Krefeld, can huge components be produced in such an energy-efficient and sustainable way," emphasises Dirk Howe.
About Siempelkamp
Siempelkamp is a globally active group of companies with the business units Machinery and Plant Engineering, Casting Technology as well as Engineering and Service. Nearly 3,000 employees worldwide ensure that the Siempelkamp Group is among the world leaders with its technologies. The Siempelkamp Foundry in Krefeld specialises in the production of hand-formed large castings of up to 320 tons made of cast iron with nodular graphite. With a casting volume of 50,000 tons per year and 375 employees, it is one of the largest hand-forming foundries in the world. The comprehensive and customer-oriented service package includes the entire production process from design, calculations, pattern making, moulding and casting to mechanical processing, packaging and transport.
Source: www.siempelkamp.com
