Wedge Group Galvanizing has introduced a number of highly innovative and sophisticated processes to enhance its sustainable qualities.
The galvanizing process suffers from significant evaporative losses, and water has to be replenished on a regular basis. Wedge has introduced a sophisticated method of rainwater collection and harvesting, which has been so far adopted at 9 of its 14 plants nationwide. The process involves rainwater falling on the site being collected via gutters then filtered into specially-installed tanks, where it is then stored and re-used within the galvanizing process. This not only replenishes levels lost through evaporation and eliminates run-off from sites, but significantly minimises the need to use mains water.
One plant already being highly acclaimed across the industry is Worksop Galvanizing, which has invested in a £1/4million system, including a brand new 50,000 litre collection tank which gathers all rainwater from the plant’s roof. The complete project also saw additional work carried out to collect rainwater from the 20,000m² yard area via a 500,000 litre tank. Worksop have also replaced their 10-year-old galvanizing bath and introduced a new combustion system and technologically-advanced, fuel-efficient burners, which have significantly increased the firm’s productivity and also greatly improved their eco-friendly credentials.
Another of The Group’s plants, East Anglian Galvanizing – a state-of-the-art £6million facility in Cambridgeshire – has a sophisticated rainwater attenuation system (Sustainable Urban Drainage system) built-in below ground to regulate the discharge of surface water after exceptional rainwater. The plant has been designed, constructed, and equipped, specifically to set industry-leading standards for sustainability and low environmental impact, and as well as its use of green technology, including its sophisticated rainwater system. The plant’s modern design has also resulted in the improvement of delivery and collection procedures, and an enhanced process layout of the plant has enabled a more efficient and resourceful production line.
Our rainwater systems currently range from uniquely-designed, built-in solutions such as those at Worksop and East Anglia, to relatively inexpensive ones where existing systems have been modified to include the use of redundant galvanizing baths to create storage tanks, at plants such as those in Glasgow and Eastleigh.