The Avery Dennison Medical Turnhout production plant in Belgium is making great strides when it comes to fostering a more sustainable work and community environment. In July, the plant took another key step in that direction when it announced the groundbreaking for a Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST) platform, which is slated to begin operation in May 2022. This installation will produce carbon-free, renewable solar energy for the Turnhout plant — specifically to help power the drying ovens used to coat pressure-sensitive adhesive products during the manufacturing process. These products are used in many industries, including construction, automotive, medical devices, and more.
How does it work?
The platform’s technology utilizes a set of parabolic mirrors that collect and project energy. They reflect and concentrate sunlight upon a collector tube filled with thermal oil, selected for its thermal conductivity as well as its ability to absorb heat with maximum efficiency. When this CST installation is complete, it will be the largest installation of parabolic mirrors in an industrial setting in the entire continent.
Senior plant manager Claudius Gosse says this solar thermal platform is “the next logical step in reducing carbon use and boosting sustainability.” Not only does it support Avery Dennison’s 2030 sustainability targets, but it has garnered robust partnerships from several stakeholders.
“The installation demonstrates Avery Dennison’s commitment to both the environment and the company’s customers,” says Koen Vermout, CEO of AZTEQ, which will be responsible for building, operating, and maintaining the installation. Financing for the CST was secured by Campina Energie, a Belgian cooperative dedicated to investing in renewable energy and energy-saving technologies throughout the country.
By using the CST platform to harvest locally sourced, natural energy, the Turnhout production plant will become less dependent on unsustainable, expensive energy sources. This is just one of many ways Avery Dennison is making a material difference in people’s lives.
