Inverters have become an increasingly essential aspect of modern life today. After all, our world runs on electricity, and we can often come to a screeching halt in its absence. Almost every household today is, consequently, equipped with an inverter and a power backup system. Whether you’re looking at investing in an inverter for the first time or are looking to upgrade from your existing system, one of the essential factors is the inverter for home price point.
What determines the inverter for home prices? What are the essential components of a home inverter system?
Keep reading: we’ll answer all your questions about inverter for home prices — and how you can find the best deal for your home.
The Importance of Inverter for Home Prices
While many suggest that inverter for home prices aren’t nearly as important as their quality, there is no denying that budget is a vital consideration for people when they are looking to purchase it. However, it’s also worth noting that inverters are, ultimately, long-term investments. Therefore, it is important to look at at least a little past inverter for home prices alone.
Let us now look at the factors that inform the inverter for home prices.
1. Load on your Inverter
Since inverters are designed to start working in the event of a power cut, the inverter for home price is directly influenced by how much power you will require it to handle when you lose power. For instance, the inverter for home price will be lower if your power requirements are low, such as if you only want to power a few fans and lights. However, if you want to power heavy-duty appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners, and TVs, the inverter for home price will go up.
To determine a precise inverter for home price, you can use an online load calculator or even perform the math yourself to determine your load requirements.
2. VA or Volt Ampere Rating
The Volt Ampere or VA rating of an inverter tells you how much power it can supply to your appliances in the event of a power cut. Like the power load on your inverter, the capacity of your inverter will also be a factor influencing the inverter for home price. The higher an inverter’s VA rating, the higher the inverter for home price, and vice versa.
High-quality and trustworthy manufacturers offers a wide variety of inverter for home prices based on your needs and budgets while delivering excellent engineering in their inverters.
3. The Battery of your Inverter
Any inverter backup system is ultimately powered by its battery. This is where power is stored for use in the event of an electricity cut. The quality, type, and capacity of your inverter battery — measured in Ampere Hours, Ah — will also determine the inverter for home prices.
Inverter batteries also come in many types, from flat and tubular inverter batteries to newer technologies such as lithium-ion battery-powered inverters. Inverter for home prices is directly impacted by the type of inverter battery you invest in, in addition to its capacity.
Conclusion
A number of factors and components impact inverter for home prices. The best thing you can do for your home is to invest in high quality — such as inverter systems manufactured by a trustworthy brand. This is, ultimately, the best way to get a great inverter for your home in the long run.
Until 2018, the maritime industry did not have a climate plan. While this may seem surprising, shipping tends to stay quiet about the environmental impacts of a global economy. Additionally, unlike other carbon-intensive sectors, it tends to quietly sail along unnoticed by consumers. It was not included in the Paris Agreement in 2016 and was not held accountable for its contribution to increased greenhouse gas emissions.
The International Maritime Organization laid out plans to cut emissions in half by 2050, an ambitious goal by one of the world’s main polluters. One of the main strategies to reduce CO2 emissions is to transition to more efficient fuel types. Most large shipping vessels operate with heavy fuel oil, which is rich in sulfur and extremely polluting. The International Maritime Organization is seeking to replace heavy fuel oil in 60,000 shipping vessels.
However, consumer awareness surrounding the environmental cost of international shipping, coupled with innovative technology, may reduce the amount of pollution produced. The most likely solutions to reduce emissions from the maritime industry include transitioning to a more low-carbon fuel source, changing transport speeds, adopting sustainable shipping waste disposal strategies, transitioning to renewable energy and optimizing travel routes.
The Price of International Shipping
Shipping emissions are expected to grow exponentially between now and 2050. International shipping accounts for the majority of industrial pollution. Maritime regulations are significantly behind those for other carbon-intensive industries. It can be legally complicated to assign accountability to certain countries, especially in international waters. A handful of mega-ships can have the same level of greenhouse gas emissions as millions of cars, accounting for an incalculable portion of air and water pollution.
Our economy is global. When you look at the tags on your furniture, appliances, clothes and electronics, you may see dozens of countries around the world. Even our food, including perishable items like avocados and lettuce, are shipped internationally. Fresh produce can be shipped thousands of miles without spoiling using different refrigeration systems, such as air compressor technology. While these technologies make it easier to transport food, they come with a high-carbon impact. However, there are energy-efficient solutions to reduce carbon emissions in the shipping industry.
Energy-Efficient Solutions
Low-carbon technology is available in the shipping industry, but how it works in practice may be a different story. For example, switching from a high sulfur fuel oil to a low carbon option may have the greatest impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Lowering sulfur oxide emissions is key to reducing the effects of international shipping.
However, switching oils will require the industry to identify pollution from the whole lifecycle, meaning that the use of fuel is only one part of its environmental impact. Accounting for this will be crucial in finding a sustainable solution for maritime industry emissions.
Another solution that is easier to implement than changing fuels is a practice called slow steaming. Slow steaming simply refers to slowing boats down, sometimes only by a few degrees. While it may not sound like much, changing a ship’s speed by a couple of kilometers can result in an 18% increase in fuel savings, which could be a gamechanger. However, industry leaders are worried that simply slowing down ships is not the answer, since it will result in a need for more vessels to keep the global economy moving.
Other energy-efficient solutions to reduce maritime industry emissions include route optimization, renewable energy such as wind-assist technology and transitioning to all-electric ships. Norway, a main exporter in the petroleum and fish industries, has already tested an all-electric vessel and is actively working to optimize this technology to transition more ships away from fuel oil.
Time for Maritime Industry to Go Green
The effort by the maritime industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is significant. Effective solutions to help curb climate change include transitioning to low sulfur fuel oils, changing ship speeds and investing in new technology such as renewable energy. However, consumer awareness will also play a vital role in the future of international shipping. The cost of a global economy is significant. Finding more sustainable methods of transporting goods across the ocean is imperative.
Biofuel commercialization has proved to be costly and lingering than expected due to its high production cost and modification to flexibility in engines. Drop-in fuels are alternatives to existing liquid fuels without any significant modification in engines and infrastructures. According to IEA, “Drop-in biofuels are liquid bio-hydrocarbons that are functionally equivalent to petroleum fuels and are fully compatible with existing petroleum infrastructure”.
What are Drop-in Biofuels
Drop-in biofuels are can be produced from oilseeds via trans-esterification, lignocellulosic biomass via thermochemical process, sugars and alcohol via biochemical conversion or by hybrids of the above methods. Drop-in fuels encompass high hydrogen to carbon ratio with no/low sulfur and oxygen content, low water solubility and high carbon bond saturation. In short drop-in fuel is a modified fuel with close functional resemblance to fossil fuel.
Existing biofuels – bioethanol and biodiesel – have wide variation from fossil fuels in their blend wall properties – high oxygen content, hydrophilicity, energy density and mainly compatibility in existing engines and infrastructures. Oxygenated groups in biofuel have a domino effect such as reduction in the energy density, production of impurities which are highly undesirable to transportation components, instability during storage etc.
Major advantages of drop-in fuels over existing fuels are as follows:
Reduced sulphur oxide emissions by ultra low sulphur content.
Reduced ignition delay by high cetane value
Reduced hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides emissions
Low aromatic content
Low olefin content, presence of olefin compounds undergo auto-oxidation leading to surface depositions.
High saturates, therefore leaving minimum residues
Low particulate emissions
No oxygenates therefore has high stability.
Potential Biomass Feedstock
Drop-in biofuels can be produced from various biomass sources- lipids (vegetable oils, animal fats, greases, and algae) and lignocellulosic material (such as crop residues, woody biomass, and dedicated energy crops). The prominent technologies for biomass conversion to drop-in fuel are the thermochemical and the biochemical process.
The major factor playing role in selection of biomass for thermochemical methods is the energy content or heating value of the material, which is correlated with ash content. Wood, wood chips accounts for less than 1% ash content, which is favorable thermal processing than biochemical process, whereas straws, husks, and majority of the other biomass have ash content ranging up to 25% of dry mass.
Free sugar generating plants such as sugarcane and sweet sorghum, are desirable feedstock for Acetone-Butanol-Ethanol fermentation and have been widely implemented. Presently there is a focus to exploit lignocellulosic residues, rich in hydrocarbon, for fuel production. However, this biomass requires harsh pretreatment to remove lignin and to transform holocellulose (cellulose & hemicelluloses) into fermentable products.
The lignocellulose transformation technology must be circumspectly chosen by its life cycle assessment, as it resists any changes in their structural integrity owing to its complexity. Lignocellulosic biomass, when deoxygenated, has better flexibility to turn to drop-in fuels. This is because, in its native state of the feedstock, each oxygen atom consumes two hydrogen atoms during combustion which in turn reduces effective H: C ratio. Biomass feedstock is characterized with oxygen up to 40%, and higher the oxygen content higher it has to be deoxygenated.
Thermochemical Route
Thermochemical methods adopted for biomass are pyrolysis and gasification, on thermolysis of biomass produce intermediate gas (syngas) and liquid (bio crude) serving as precursors for drop-in fuel. Biomass when exposed to temperature of 500oC-600oC in absence of oxygen (pyrolysis) produce bio-oil, which constitutes a considerable percentage of oxygen. After down streaming by hydroprocessing (hydrotreating and hydrocracking) the rich hydrocarbon tar (bio-oil) can be converted to an efficient precursor for drop-in fuel.
At a higher temperature, above 700, under controlled oxygen, biomass can be converted to liquid fuel via gas phase by the process, gasification. Syngas produced is converted to liquid fuel by Fischer-Tropsch with the help of ‘water gas shift’ for hydroprocessing. Hydroprocessing after the thermochemical method is however costly and complex process in case of pyrolysis and inefficient biomass to fuel yield with gasification process.
Biochemical Pathway
The advanced biocatalytic processes can divert the conventional sugar-ethanol pathway and convert sugars to fatty acids. Modified microbial strain with engineered cellular machineries, can reroute the pathway to free fatty acid that can be transformed into butanol or drop-in fuel with necessary processing.
Schematic for the preparation of jet fuel from biomass
Biological processing requires operation under the stressful conditions on the organisms to reroute the pathways, in additional to lowering NADPH (hydrogen) consumption. Other value added products like carboxylic acid, polyols, and alcohol in the same biological routes with lower operational requirements have higher market demands and commercial success. Therefore little attention is given by chemical manufacturers to the biological pathways for drop-in fuel production.
The mechanisms of utilization of lignocellulosic biomass to fuel by biological pathway rely heavily on the availability of monomeric C5 and C6 sugars during fermentation. Ethanol is perhaps the best-known and commercially successful alcohol from ABE fermentation. However, butanol has various significant advantages over ethanol- in the perception of energy content, feasibility to existing infrastructures, zero blend wall, safety and clean aspects.
Although butanol is a closer drop-in replacement, existing biofuel ethanol, is a major commercial competitor. Low yield from fermentation due to the toxicity of butanol and complexity in down streaming are the vital reasons that hamper successful large scale butanol production.
Zero oxygen and sulphur content mark major challenges for production of drop-in fuels from conventional biomass. This demands high hydrogen input on the conventional biomass, with H: C ratio below 0.5, like sugar, starch, cellulose, lignocellulose to meet the effective hydrogen to carbon ratio of 2 as in drop-in fuel. This characterizes most of the existing biomass feedstock as a low-quality input for drop-in fuels. However oleochemicals like fats, oils, and lipids have closer H: C ratio to diesel, gasoline and drop-in fuels, thus easier to conversion.
Oleochemical feedstock has been commercially successful, but to prolong in the platform will be a major challenge. Lipid feedstock is generally availed from crop-based vegetable oil, which is used in food sectors. Therefore availability, food security concerns, and economics are the major constraints to sustaining the raw material. Consequently switching to lignocellulosic biomass feedstock for drop-in holds on.
Conclusions
Despite the hurdles on biomass characteristics and process technology for drop-in fuel, it is a vital requirement to switch to better replacement fuel for fossil fuel, considering environmental and economic benefits. Understanding its concepts and features, drop-in fuel, can solve existing greenhouse emission debate on current biofuels. Through crucial ambiguities existing on future of alternative fuels, drop-in fuel has a substantial potential to repute itself as an efficient sustainable eco-friendly fuel in the near future.
References
Neal K Van Alfen: ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS, Elsevier, Academic Press.
Pablo Domínguez de María John: INDUSTRIAL BIORENEWABLES:A Practical Viewpoint: Wiley & Sons.
Ram Sarup Singh, Ashok Pandey, Edgard Gnansounou: BIOFUELS- PRODUCTION AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES, CRC Press.
Satinder Kaur Brar, Saurabh Jyoti Sarma, Kannan Pakshirajan : PLATFORM CHEMICAL BIOREFINERY-FUTURE GREEN CHEMISTRY, Elsevier.
Sergios Karatzos, James D. McMillan, Jack N. Saddle: Summary of IEA BIOENERGY TASK 39 REPORT-THE POTENTIAL AND CHALLENGES OF DROP-IN BIOFUELS, IEA Bioenergy.
Vijai Kumar Gupta, Monika Schmoll, Minna Maki, Maria Tuohy, Marcio Antonio Mazutti: APPLICATIONS OF MICROBIAL ENGINEERING, CRC Press.
Sustainability is a societal goal to meet everyday needs without negatively harming the environment. This whole concept is commonly referred to as ‘going green.’
Various global industries aim to run operations without causing harm to the environment and, consequently, to future generations through sustainability standards and practices. With this in mind, businesses that have gone green prefer to work with others who’ve implemented the green concept. It ensures their efforts aren’t futile, and they protect the environment throughout the product cycle.
Finding suppliers that have gone green can be challenging if you’re sourcing specialty chemicals. Here’s a guide on picking the most suitable provider:
1. Research Their Sustainable Practices
Specialty chemicals providers follow sustainable practices to deliver products and materials with less environmental impact. These practices include waste management, carbon footprint, and the use of renewable sources of energy.
Waste Management
First, ask – what are the provider’s waste management protocols? It’s no news that plastic waste is one of the biggest threats to our environment. What are they doing to mitigate their plastics use? What is their disposal system? A good specialty chemicals provider is an active participant in sustainability efforts and will not just pass the burden on the consumers of their products.
Carbon Footprint Management
Their website, collaterals, and company information should also mention their plans to minimize their carbon footprint. Carbon footprint refers to the amount of carbon dioxide a provider releases into the environment. Did you know that the industrial sector, the specialty chemicals industry is the 3rd highest contributor of carbon emissions? This statement emanates from the fact that the industry utilizes many toxic raw materials to make specialty chemicals. Therefore, an ideal green provider puts measures to prevent these toxic emissions from getting into the environment.
Use of Renewable Energy
Specialty chemicals providers are racing to adopt green energy in their operations. In the next few years, we can expect these companies to wean off fossil fuels and be run by renewable energy completely. Is your provider adopting a similar strategy?
These sustainable practices are at the forefront of the chemicals industry’s effort to positively impact the planet. Choose a provider that’s actively adopting sustainable practices.
2. Compare Several Providers
Suppose in your search for a green provider for specialty chemicals, you find several. How will you choose?
It’s best to compare them on the extent of their sustainability. First, do they meet your definition of being green? If yes, what else do they offer beyond that?
The aim is to work with a green provider who provides more than the bare minimum. You’ll get value for your money and will have less to worry about whether or not you’re protecting the environment.
3. Get Recommendations
Finding a green provider for specialty chemicals can be arduous, especially if you only rely on general Google searches. That’s why it’s important to get recommendations from other customers that seek services from green businesses.
They’ll have a rough idea of green providers they’ve previously worked with who sell these products. With the list at hand, the process is easier and faster.
In addition, it’d help to look at reviews of the green provider. Reviews are feedback from the provider’s current and previous clients. Look out for comments about their sustainability. Do the clients fully confirm this, or are there doubts? Your chosen provider should have a clean record regarding sustainability.
4. Ask For Proof Of Sustainability
Your specialty chemicals provider may claim to be sustainable. However, how true is this?
Various regulating bodies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) issue certifications to sustainable businesses. These are the certifications you should ask to see from a given provider. Ensure the certifying body exists and is legitimate.
The other way of proofing a provider’s sustainability is by requesting a tour of their premises. During the tour, focus on how they run operations. Where do they source their raw materials; is it from sustainable suppliers? Do they have waste in their production process? If yes, how do they manage the waste? Do they recycle the waste, or is it taken for disposal?
These should give you a good grasp of the company’s sustainability efforts.
5. Look At Costs
Affordability is key when seeking a product or service; you should pay reasonable prices.
Specialty chemicals green providers will charge different prices for these goods. It’d help to compare these costs to get the most affordable one. As you do this, you’ll find that some providers will charge more because they’re green. Consider understanding why they’ve arrived at the said price. You want to maintain sustainability in your search for affordability.
Ensure you settle for a green provider whose prices you’re willing and able to pay, all factors considered.
Conclusion
Consciously taking care of the environment, directly or indirectly, is a commendable practice. The discussion above has established that one of the ways to do it indirectly is by buying products from sustainable vendors. Before choosing an eco-friendly specialty chemicals provider, do your research, check out their sustainable practices, and compare them with other providers.
When you think of oil companies, it’s likely you don’t also think of “environmentally-friendly”. We see news about spilled oil, burning tankers, and other issues, and assume that all oil companies are disregarding the health of our planet. This simply isn’t the case, and you’ll be happy to know that the oil industry is actually working to keep the environment clean.
Here are five ways the oil industry is helping out with Mother Earth.
1. Information
The first step to improving anything is realizing there’s a problem to begin with, then gathering necessary information on the problem. Every time an oil spill, accident, or fire occurs, the oil industry is gathering precious data to use to combat future problems.
When a spill occurs, it can be devastating for the local ecosystems. Flora and fauna alike are affected by the viscous liquid, often restricting their ability to move, breathe, or perform daily functions. The Deepwater Horizon Rig that caused a massive spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 was much more than just an industrial and environmental disaster; it was a learning experience for the oil industry.
Scientists and researchers from all over the world descended on the Gulf after the spill, and though we’re still learning from it a decade later, the information that was collected has been incredibly beneficial to the industry and has helped pave the way for new containment processes.
2. Better Pipe Maintenance
Maintaining pipelines is a crucial component of keeping the environment clean. Pipes can rupture, leaking oil or natural gas into the environment or even causing explosions and fires under the right conditions. The oil and natural gas industries have focused heavily on creating better maintenance processes and safety standards for pipelines across the country in recent years.
Not only do faulty pipelines put the environment at risk, but they also put thousands of workers at risk as well. Keeping workers and the environment safe not only shows care for the Earth and the industry’s employees but also helps potentially save millions in cleanup dollars.
3. Decreasing Freshwater Usage
Certain processes, such as fracking or separating oil from sands, use millions of gallons of fresh water. This is incredibly damaging to the environment not only because there’s already a shortage of freshwater on a global scale, but also because the wastewater that’s produced is stored in man-made containment units that aren’t always good at containing it.
Fracking wastewater is laced with chemicals that are both harmful to the environment directly and can contaminate other freshwater sources. The oil industry is working hard to minimize the use of freshwater in fracking and separation processes, as well as reducing the amount of wastewater and improving containment.
There’s also some promise in the area of recycling the water itself for use in future processes. In the US, produced water from fracking is being used in certain applications and even some water treatment plants are focusing on better treatment processes to make the water drinkable.
4. Investing In Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is on the horizon, and with the continued focus on wind, solar, hydro, and even tidal energy, the oil industry is starting to take notice. These energy sources offer a promising future, but as of yet, they’re not able to meet the world’s energy demands in an affordable way.
Right now, gasoline, natural gas, and crude oil are much cheaper and more profitable to source, acquire, and sell to the public. Pipelines can transport natural gas thousands of miles away, serving isolated regions and maintaining a constant flow of raw resources throughout the country.
Not to mention, the Canadian economy is highly invested in oil and natural gas, being the 5th and 6th largest producer of each respectively. However, the oil industry isn’t ignoring renewables. With continued investments, we could see a partial or full transition to renewable energy within our lifetime.
5. Using Technology For Better Planning
As technology improves, so too do the processes by which pipelines are planned and built. With new software, engineers can better plan a pipe’s path through an ecosystem in order to minimize the environmental impact. Better diagnostic software can identify issues long before they become spills or ruptures, and even AI tech is playing a role in the oil industry.
Moving Forward
Believe it or not, the oil industry is committed to a safer and more sustainable world. By using technology and data, the industry is improving its processes and ensuring that renewable energy remains an option for the future of energy production.
Never before has our society had such a massive and noticeable predilection for recycling. Many industries now want to show that they have a minimal carbon footprint and are doing everything in their power to reduce the burden they cause on the planet as a whole.
This desire has now come to the machining industry. Ceramics often go unused in many industries. This can be things such as broken or excess tiles from a construction site or any other number of ceramic using industries. Previously, we didn’t really know what to do with this excess waste and carted it off to landfills for it to live out the rest of its days.
Now, we are able to grind the ceramics into a fine powder that can then be repurposed for a staggering number of alternative uses. Turning this powder into useable machine parts is just one of these uses that is now seeing some major traction.
Why machine parts?
Many people are woefully unaware of just how prevalent ceramic parts are in the industry. Everything from electrical insulators to use in high-powered lasers and even as durable nozzles for dispensing materials from. Ceramic is highly prized for its thermal resistance, toughness, and applications in the electrical field.
Any of these parts, however, require careful machining of ceramics to get the parts to the right specifications. What this means is that there is a huge demand for people who can take ceramic waste, break it down, and then change it into a useable part.
Okay, but why ceramic?
Ceramic parts are one of the biggest places for growth in industry application currently. Both designers and engineers are finding new ways to apply ceramic to their needs, and part of this requires heavy testing. It can be prohibitively expensive for consistently machine parts from new ceramic for testing in ways that haven’t been proven to be economically viable yet, so using repurposed and recycled ceramics are a great way to test ideas before taking them to market.
The low weight and toughness of ceramics mean that over time, many parts thought only usable if they were made from metal or specialized materials can now be created from relatively simple ceramic materials. As chemistry advances and allows us to create new forms of ceramics in all manner of shapes and sizes, so do our possible applications for these ceramics.
In short, nobody wants to be left behind as better ceramic products are created which in turn is creating a huge demand for ceramic waste for recycling purposes.
They say that technology advances at an exponential pace, meaning that the time it takes for us to double our relative amount of technological advancement is shrinking with each major technological milestone. There’s very little opportunity for those who can’t manage to keep up, with obsolescence coming quickly, there is a major incentive to be on the cusp of any given field’s knowledge. Having the newest and best ceramic parts is just part of this drive for future-proofing businesses, meaning ceramic waste is at a premium currently.
Wide-spread environmental concerns about plastic waste are leading to increased demand for the plastic recycling market that has various uses for plastic waste. At the same time, and in line with this growing need, an increased number of industries that produce plastic products have committed to reducing their use of virgin plastic and ensuring that the plastic they do produce is recyclable, reusable, or compostable.
Growth of the Plastic Recycling Market
Valued at around $43.73 billion in 2018, research indicates that the plastic recycling market will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.6% in revenue and 8.8% in volume by 2027. Findings are that rising environmental concerns will be the primary driving force along with the concerted global effort towards effective waste management and sustainability. Another is the growing awareness of the need for recycling plastic and the anticipated market growth of the PR market.
A new report released by Research and Markets in February 2020 gives a market snapshot in its executive summary and discusses the plastic recycling market by material type, source, application, and geography. Titled Global Plastic Recycling Market Size, Market Share, Application Analysis, Regional Outlook, Growth Trends, Key Players, Competitive Strategies and Forecasts, 2019 to 2027, it explores the roles of the many global and regional participants in the plastic recycling market and analyses anticipated acquisitions, partnerships, and collaborations. These, the report states, are likely to be the major strategies market players will follow in an endeavor to expand their geographic presence and market share.
An older report published mid-2018 gave a slightly lower CAGR for the period 2018 to 2023 of 4.3%. This report, Global Plastic Waste Management Market 2018 by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2023 stated that it would grow from an estimated $27,1000 in 2017 to $34,900 in 2023.
Global Focus
When research for the new report was carried out during 2018, the Asia-Pacific region including China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and India, had the highest market share in plastic recycling. This was attributed to the fact that the region has the largest share in the generation of plastic waste and is also the biggest plastic waste importer.
However, Europe was pinpointed as a region poised to become the fastest-growing in the plastic recycling market due to increasing government initiatives and the improvement of recycling facilities in this part of the world.
While the report covers at least 16 companies involved in plastic recycling globally, the Hungarian MOL Group has been highlighted as a result of its acquisition of Aurora, a German recycled plastic compounder company. MOL is a well-established supplier of virgin polymers and was motivated by its Enter Tomorrow 2030 strategy that aims to move its business from a traditional fuel-based model to a higher value-added petrochemical product portfolio. More specifically, MOL intends to strengthen its position as a supplier in the sustainable plastic compounding segment of the automotive industry.
The older report focused on plastic waste management not only in the Asia-Pacific region but also in North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Use of Recycled Plastic
In terms of plastic materials, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) had the biggest market share in 2018. The reason given for this was a rapid surge in demand for PET and HDPE for the manufacturing of packaging. Hopefully, this won’t increase the production of PET and HDPE, but will rather help to get rid of waste.
As the CEO of Unilever, Alan Jope, said in a press statement late 2019: “Plastic has its place, but that place is not in the environment.” He was announcing Unilever’s commitment to halve its use of virgin plastic, reduce its use of plastic packaging, and dramatically step up its use of recycled plastic by 2025. They would also help to collect and process more plastic packaging than it sells – which will amount to about 600,000 tonnes per year, he said.
Additionally, technological advances in the plastic recycling industry have led to other less expected uses including the manufacture of denim clothing.
Realizing the environmental impact production of denim clothing has, Levi Strauss & Co. has taken bold steps to reduce its use of water and chemicals in cotton and cotton-clothing production, and about a decade ago, the company launched its much more sustainable Water<Less range of jeans. In 2013, Levi’s used dumped plastic bottles and food trays to make 300,000 jeans and trucker jackets for its spring collection. Of course, not the entire product was made from plastic, but it was guaranteed that at least 20% came from recycled plastic content.
Many other items are also made from recycled plastic, some with more plastic content than others. They include bags, rugs and mats, blankets, bottles, planters, dog collars, shoes, decking, fencing, and outdoor furniture.
The Future of Plastic
While many people talk about plastic as a material that should be eradicated, it does have remarkable uses as Alan Jope implies. But there is a dire need to change our thinking. The irony is that when recycled plastic was invented it was used to try and solve environmental problems like reducing the hunting of elephants for ivory and to provide protective sheaths for electrical wiring.
There is undoubtedly too much virgin plastic being produced worldwide and during the process, there are too many other natural resources being depleted. Added to this, too many consumers have no knowledge or concern about the use and disposal of plastic products. They simply don’t care!
We, as a global nation, need to focus more on the reuse, recycling, and remanufacture of plastic, which is exactly what plastic recycling companies can do so successfully.
Ultimately, we need to eradicate plastic waste by making it useful, and there is no doubt that the mechanical engineering sector is well positioned to find solutions.
Although they are among the most important parties in computer manufacturing, the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) is often overlooked. The majority of people only see the final product and don’t understand the work that goes into producing computers, laptops, printers, etc. either.
In this article, we will shed some light on this process through the role of the OEM. First, we will identify OEM is and determine how they work. Then we will compare OEM to other parties such as aftermarket and ODM to provide further practical context.
Let’s get started!
What Does OEM Mean?
OEM stands for the original equipment manufacturer. So, the term is used to refer to companies that produce parts to be used by other companies to create larger-scale finished products.
For example, a company tasked with building an electrical train track may outsource the production of hardware for the track to an electrical OEM. That way, they can focus on the electrical side and software products, and use a specialist OEM to take care of the hardware.
Apart from electrical engineering, OEMs are common in industries such as computer manufacturing and the auto industry. This is typical because end products in these industries are made up of several different parts, as shown by the diagram below of an electric train.
Now that we’ve got the basics covered, let’s take a closer look at how OEMs work.
How Do OEMs Work?
OEMs can operate in different ways. First of all, they can be hired by other companies on a freelance basis. For example, an engineering company working on a one-off job may require unique parts to complete the project. In that case, it makes sense to outsource the production of those parts to an OEM who will work on the project on a temporary basis.
On the other hand, an OEM may produce and sell some parts regularly. For example, a spark plug for a car is something that an auto-parts manufacturer would regularly produce. Companies can simply buy the parts like any other product. In some cases, an automatic order and invoice may be set up between the OEM and the purchasing company.
Finally, some companies hire OEM partners to produce parts for their end products as contract manufacturers. The OEM is paid to produce the parts and gets a share of the revenue on products they contribute to. Overall, it becomes more of a collaborative process. The OEM works with the partner company to manufacture a specific part for a larger scale project as opposed to selling a product that they already manufacture.
It is important to note that OEMs are not tied down to a single company. Depending on the size of the OEM they may partner with multiple companies on different types of projects.
Original Equipment Manufacturer vs. Aftermarket
It is important to understand the difference between OEM and other similar parties that provide parts for end products. First, let’s take a look at aftermarket manufacturers and establish how they differ from OEMs.
Aftermarket products are parts that can be used to replace parts manufactured by an OEM. The first difference to note is that aftermarket products are generic, meaning they can be used for a wide variety of similar products.
For example, a wire pulling compound designed to be compatible with all types of cables and conduits could be considered an aftermarket product. On the other hand, an OEM manufactures quality products for use as part of a specific end product, not for general use.
As they are generic, aftermarket products are also much cheaper than OEM products. Aftermarket products are also readily available, unlike OEM products. These differences are summed up perfectly in the graphic below in the context of the automotive industry.
Companies working on an end product with a fast-approaching deadline may resort to aftermarket products for a quick fix if an OEM product becomes obsolete. However, despite the convenience they provide, you may have to sacrifice quality by choosing to use aftermarket products.
As we mentioned earlier, aftermarket products are not designed for a specific product. So, in the long run, it may be best to solve the issue with the help of the OEM. Most OEM parts should have a warranty, so you can also save on production costs by going back to your OEM partner.
OEM vs ODM
ODM stands for original design manufacturer. It refers to a company that produced the initial design for a product.
As we know, an OEM manufactures products and sells them to other companies to be used in a larger-scale product. On the other hand, an ODM creates a product design and hires another company to manufacture the product using their product specifications.
In summary, an ODM designs products and an OEM produces them. The graphic below sums up the difference nicely.
When purchasing parts in industries such as electrical engineering, it is critical to understand this distinction. If you are looking for a very specific type of part with specifications, you may need to consult an ODM to come up with a design for an original product.
It’s also worth noting that some companies may be an ODM and OEM rolled into one. If you can find a partner like this, it is probably the best scenario. You can cut out the middleman and collaborate on design and manufacturing with the same company.
In summary, OEM stands for an original equipment manufacturer. OEMs can be very helpful. Outsourcing to OEMs is quite common, particularly in industries such as engineering and car manufacturing, where many individual parts make up the end product.
Depending on your business and the project you are working on you can hire an OEM on a freelance basis, or partner with them. In the long term, partnering is probably the best option, as you can regularly call on the OEMs’ expertise.
You should also keep in mind the differences between an OEM and both ODMs and aftermarket products. ODM stands for original design manufacturer while aftermarket products are cheaper, generic parts that can be used to replace OEM parts at short notice.
Keep these tips in mind when outsourcing. Good luck!
Lead-acid batteries are used on a mass-scale in all parts of the world for energy storage. Lead-acid batteries contain sulphuric acid and large amounts of lead. The acid is extremely corrosive and is also a good carrier for soluble lead and lead particulate. Lead is a highly toxic metal that produces a range of adverse health impacts particularly among young children.
Exposure to excessive levels of lead can cause damage to brain and kidney, impair hearing; and lead to numerous other associated problems. On average, each automobile manufactured contains approximately 12 kilograms of lead. Around 96% lead is used in the common lead-acid battery, while the remaining 4% in other applications including wheel balance weights, protective coatings and vibration dampers.
Recycling Perspectives
Recycling of lead-acid batteries is a profitable business, albeit dangerous, in developing countries. Many developing countries buy used lead-acid batteries (also known as ULABs) from industrialized countries (and Middle East) in bulk in order to extract lead. ULAB recycling occurs in almost every city in the developing world where ULAB recycling and smelting operations are often located in densely populated urban areas with hardly any pollution control and safety measures for workers.
Usually ULAB recycling operations release lead-contaminated waste into the environment and natural ecosystems. Infact, Blacksmith Institute estimates that over 12 million people are affected by lead contamination from processing of used lead acid batteries in the developing world, with South America, South Asia and Africa being the most affected regions.
Associated Problems
The problems associated with recycling of ULABs are well-documented and recognized by the industry and the Basel Convention Secretariat. As much of the informal ULAB recycling is small-scale and difficult to regulate or control, progress is possible only through cleanup, outreach, policy, and education.
For example, Blacksmith’s Lead Poisoning and Car Batteries Project is currently active in eight countries, including Senegal, the Dominican Republic, India, and the Philippines. The Project aims to end widespread lead poisoning from the improper recycling of ULABs, and consists of several different strategies and programs, with the most important priority being the health of children in the surrounding communities.
Lead poisoning, from improper recycling of used batteries, impacts tens of millions of people worldwide.
There is no effective means of tracking shipments of used lead-acid batteries from foreign exporters to recycling plants in developing world which makes it difficult to trace ULABs going to unauthorized or inadequate facilities.
The Way Forward
An effective method to reduce the hazards posed by trans-boundary movements of ULABs is to encourage companies that generate used lead batteries to voluntarily stop exporting lead batteries to developing countries. These types of voluntary restrictions on transboundary shipments can help pressure companies involved in recycling lead batteries in developing to improve their environmental performance. It may also help encourage policy makers to close the gaps in both regulations and enforcement capacity.
Another interesting way is to encourage regeneration of lead-acid batteries which can prolong its life significantly. The advantage of battery regeneration over regular recycling is the reduced carbon footprint incurred by mitigating the collecting, packing, shipping and smelting of millions of tonnes of batteries and their cases. Most importantly, it takes about 25kWh of energy to remake a 15Kg, 12V 70Ah battery and just 2.1KWh to regenerate it electronically.
Thin films are required for several processes—from manufacturing touch panels and glass to solar cells and displays. These layers are manufactured using a process called sputter deposition. The sputtering target is a vital piece in the procedure.
This article will cover all you need to know about sputtering targets.
Let’s dive right in.
What is a Sputtering Target?
A sputtering target is a raw material that helps produce thin films used in sputtering deposition/coating. It helps to coat different materials called the substrate. Substrates can be glass, displays, solar cells, etc.
Sputter targets can be circular, like the one shown below. Similarly, they can come in powdered form.
Sputter coating occurs in a sputtering system. The image below shows what this system looks like. The sputtering system is a vacuum chamber with a controlled pressure of 0.5 to two pascals.
The coating process begins with the introduction of argon gas until the system attains a low-pressure argon-filled environment.
Sputtering targets are usually negatively charged. Since argon has a positive charge, it is attracted to the target. When it collides with the sputtering target, it ejects atoms from the target surface. There is also a magnetic material/array in the system that reinforces the ejection of these atoms.
Then, the ejected atoms travel opposite the target to coat the substrate layer-by-layer until they form a uniform thin film.
One of the most popular target materials used as sputtering targets, especially for semiconductors, is aluminum. This is thanks to its versatility and superior heat resistance. However, you still need a certified aluminum powder supplier to get the best possible coating quality.
4 Uses of the Sputtering Target
The sputtering target is a vital piece for coating most of the materials you use today. In this section, we will discuss the four popular uses of the sputtering target.
1. Semiconductors
The sputtering target is necessary to create several thin layers in semiconductors. These include microchips, flat panel displays, etc. The target is an integral part of the wiring and barrier layer of the semiconductor.
Besides, in wafer manufacturing, these targets are necessary to produce conductive layers and metal grids. The importance of the sputtering target further extends to chip packaging, where it is used to manufacture the wiring layer and metallic layer just below the bump.
The targets used for semiconductors are the most demanding when it comes to purity and technology. They will not meet the required electric performance if the impurity level is higher than required. This can lead to circuit damage. Metals such as Aluminum, Tantalum, Titanium, Copper, etc., are recommended for the process. A mil-spec supplier can help ensure this purity.
2. Solar Cells
The sputtering target is an integral part of thin film solar cells, which is the second and one of the most efficient generations of solar cells. With the target coating, this generation promises 10 to 20 years of lifetime with the best payback time.
There are many targets used for solar cell coating. The first is cadmium telluride (CdTe) sputtering target. This target works with the least carbon footprint and water usage during the sputter deposition process. With CdTe, you also don’t have to worry about energy deficit in the short term. However, cadmium is a component of the target, which can be toxic.
Another target used is the CIGS target. CIGS is the combination of copper, indium, gallium, and selenium. Films prepared using CIGS show superior light absorption and power-generating potential.
You can also use the gallium arsenide target, which maintains its efficiency even at overly high temperatures. It is most suitable for solar cells used in areas with high radiation and ultraviolet rays, such as aerospace.
3. Low Radiation-Coated Glass
Energy-saving glass or low radiation-coated glass is replacing the traditional glass today. This is partly because of its aesthetics and its energy-saving and light control capabilities. The magnetron sputtering technique is used to manufacture this low radiation coated glass.
Silver sputtering targets are very popularly used for energy-saving glasses. This is due to their elevated conductivity, ductility, and malleability. Another material is chromium sputtering target. This target can make a film as tiny as 2 to 10 micrometers. Chromium is hard, doesn’t wear off easily, and can resist impact. These are the features you want in your glass.
Titanium sputtering target is perhaps the most versatile choice. Whether you’re using it for semiconductors or low radiation-coated glass, it slots in seamlessly.
Other important target materials to note are the zinc tin target, silicon aluminum target, and titanium dioxide target.
4. Optical Glass
Sputtering targets are also necessary components for making coatings of sunglasses, optic filters, eyeglasses, and other optics glasses. You can superimpose these thin films on these optical components. These thin films further optimize how light is transmitted or reflected in the optical glass. In essence, sputtering targets are responsible for the anti-static safety property of lenses and other visors.
Coating with the target material can help you elevate the luster and lifetime of the optical glass. It also minimizes abrasion and increases the glass’s thermal conductivity.
The targets used in this case are similar to the ones used in the energy-saving glass coating. Their difference lies in their manufacturing procedure.
There are two popular sputtering processes for optical glass coating. The first is ion beam sputtering. This involves bombarding the target with high-energy ion beams. This will help eject the target atoms and form a hard, dense, and smooth film on the optical surface.
The other sputtering process is advanced plasma sputtering. This process uses a hot cathode to eject the atoms instead of high-energy beams. This process gives you smooth and hard coating on the optical surface, reinforcing its stability. It is a very versatile process. Thus, it is the preferable choice for high-volume and more demanding coating processes.
In Conclusion
From automobiles to electronics and other applications that require thin films, the sputter target is integral. It helps you add more functionality and durability to the substrate. There are various types of target materials, each suitable for various purposes. Some of them include zinc, titanium, CIGS, CdTe, and others.
These targets have various applications. You can use them to make components of semiconductors and solar cell coatings. They also come in handy when you want to coat energy-saving and optical glasses.
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