Volvo cut energy consumption by 90 percent

Volvo cut energy consumption by 90 percent By developing a new drying method for painted engine blocks, Volvo Powertrain in Skövde succeeded in reducing its energy consumption by 90 percent. Volvo's executive management is eager to see more efficiency improvements of this kind within the Group. "I have urged all of our employees to do their best to make Volvo a world leader in terms of energy efficiency and low emissions," says the Volvo Group's President and Chief Executive Officer, Leif Johansson. The five employees in the team at Volvo Powertrain in Skövde who devised the new drying method were awarded the Volvo Group's Internal Environmental Prize at a ceremony held today. In the past, the plant used heat to dry newly painted engine blocks. However, by switching to dry air in the drying process, the team succeeded in reducing energy consumption from 650 to 70 kW per hour. This corresponds to a total decrease in energy consumption of a full 90 percent. The award ceremony was held in connection with the Volvo Group's internal environmental conference. During the conference, Leif Johansson, the Volvo Group's President and Chief Executive Officer, and Karl-Erling Trogen, member of Volvo's Executive Management Group, encouraged efforts to make the Volvo Group a world leader in the field of energy efficiency and low emissions, in terms of both production and finished products. Environmental care is one of Volvo's core values. October 8, 2002 For further information, contact Lena Gevert, +46 30 66 69 90 ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/10/08/20021008BIT00800/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/10/08/20021008BIT00800/wkr0002.pdf