Energy consumption per machine has now been halved

Energy efficiency and sustainability have become an integral part of the production processes of the mechanical and plant engineering firm. And this also applies to Lang GmbH & Co KG from Hüttenberg in Hesse, Germany. Since 1972, CNC milling and engraving machines have been under development there, as well as digitising systems, position controls and CAD/CAM software for products used in the automotive, coin, toy, wafer and packaging industries or in microscopy. “The issue of energy efficiency and sustainability plays a huge role, not only for ourselves but also for our customers. That is why we use Rittal’s Blue e+ chillers here at Lang”, says Andreas Lex, Head of Materials Management at Lang GmbH.  A trial was set up to allow the company to convince itself of the efficiency and quality of the chillers in advance. It began with a 5-kW device.  Subsequently, the connected load could be quickly reduced to 1.4 kW. “This means that we are achieving cost and energy savings of up to 50 per cent per machine. Customers in the automotive industry or in tool and mould-making are using several of these machines, and the annual savings add up very quickly”, Dimitri Kungl, Lang’s electrical engineering design engineer, adds happily.

Less refrigerant

The Blue e+ chiller generation permits a huge leap in energy efficiency. While conventional chillers with hot gas bypass control systems have an EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) of 1, an EER of as high as three can be achieved with the Blue e+ chillers. A variable speed compressor forms the basis for this high level of energy efficiency. Its innovative drive and control technology results in energy savings of as much as 70 per cent over chillers with hot gas bypass control systems. A further innovation is the compact microchannel technology in the condenser. As much as 55 per cent less refrigerant may only be needed due to the larger surface (in relation to volume) that exists for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and the ambient air.

Instead of operating the refrigeration compressor under full load. as with hot gas bypass control. and thus eliminating a large part of the cooling output, the speeds of the DC motors for the compressor and fan, as well as the electronic expansion valve are precisely controlled by the central inverter. Thanks to this innovative drive and control technology, the Blue e + chillers always run at an ideal speed and provide just as much cooling capacity as is required.

International deployment

Lang delivers its machines all over the world. For example, as recently as spring 2021, the “Banco de la República”, Colombia’s state-owned central bank, began operating machines to produce master tools for manufacturing metal coins. That is why having an international approval for every component is vital for Lang. Rittal’s Blue e+ chillers can be used in for all major markets, as they have approvals and certifications from cULus Listed, EAC, CB certification and GS, which makes international use even easier. Furthermore, Rittal guarantees TÜV-tested performance under the DIN EN 14511 standard. Thanks to its worldwide presence, Rittal also guarantees spare parts availability and all services on site.