£1m upgrade will make Oldham furniture manufacturer greener and more efficient
Furniture components manufacturer and distributor, Hill’s Panel Products (HPP), is investing £1m to upgrade the biomass heating system at its Oldham base.
Work has started on the task, which will make the business even greener and more efficient.
Hill’s was one of the first to join the Government’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) programme – set up to minimise the effects of climate change – when it was launched almost 10 years ago.
The scheme works by rewarding firms with financial support when they employ renewable energy technologies.
Work to install two new, more powerful and efficient boilers, and associated extractors, has already started and the system is expected to be fully operational by autumn.
The new installations will combine to work in the same way as HPP’s existing biomass systems, which reduce the firm’s carbon footprint by collecting wood waste otherwise destined for landfill via an extraction system. It is then stored in huge silos to fuel boilers heating production warehouses, in addition to supplying heat needed for the manufacturing process.
HPP’s marketing and business development director, Dan Mounsey, said: “Our infrastructure was ageing so we wanted to update it for greener, more efficient options. These new boilers will reduce our carbon footprint to the point that we don’t use any fossil fuels to heat those warehouses at all.
“The big difference between old and new is the new feature ceramic filters that extract exhaust gases before they leave the boiler. It means the emissions are much lower, which is better for the environment, while creating more heat output.”
The new systems are replacing existing boilers and extractors serving the door production and panel production warehouses, with work under way in the door production area.
Both installations involve huge logistical and production challenges. Restricted access means a wall will have to be demolished to facilitate the removal of the old boiler. It will then be rebuilt when the new boiler is in place.
Project manager, Colin Taylor, HPP’s chief engineer, said: “We’re working with the installers to ensure the project runs as smoothly as possible. There’s a lot of re-wiring involved, removing old control panels, preparing for the new one and laying wiring where it needs to go to ensure that connections are available where we need them.
“We’re also having to extend the boiler building at the door production warehouse to accommodate the larger boiler. Although the new boilers are more efficient, and create fewer emissions, they are bigger with greater heat output than the old ones.”
