Automotive

Ihobe Eusko Jaurlaritza

ECOTUBO

INNER AND OUTER PROTECTION OF THE PRECISION-CALIBRATED STEEL TUBE

HIJOS DE JUAN DE GARAY manufactures precision steel tubes whose packaging must prevent damage and corrosion during storage and transport. For this purpose, packaging is currently used which consists of a protective oil coating, followed by drying and draining of the tubes, which are then wrapped in recycled LDPE film. The company has selected this operation within the tube life cycle in order to reduce the environmental impact of the packaging through eco-design and to offer customers a more sustainable end product, whilst also improving its shipping. ECOTUBO is aligned with increased competitiveness through more efficient products and processes as a line of action of the "Environmental Framework Programme 2020".

HIJOS DE JUAN DE GARAY is leading ECOTUBO with the help of the GAIKER Technology Centre for its implementation.

HIJOS DE JUAN DE GARAY
OBJECTIVES
  • Integrate the eco-design methodology in the design of the pipe protection system.
  • Use raw materials with a lower environmental impact.
  • Reduce environmental impact at the plant in the tube protection and packaging processes.
  • Ensure high durability of the tubes even in adverse environmental conditions.
RESULTS
  • Identification of the aspects with a greater environmental impact by means of a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and proposal of improvement strategies that increase the sustainability of the process: elimination of diffuse emissions of volatile organic compounds, generation of less packaging waste, lower consumption of raw materials, easier handling and operation, and improvement of the shipping and post-treatment stage
  • Selection of the most sustainable packaging system for the packing and protection of the tube thanks to this analysis: a film with corrosion inhibitors that is more environmentally friendly over the entire life cycle despite its higher impact during the manufacturing and distribution phase.
CONCLUSIONS
  • The future strategy for action is based on analysing the integration of the alternative packaging system within the machinery and validating the final quality of the product with customers. The alternative system is a more expensive, labour-intensive and time-consuming product, so it will be necessary to assess the potential bottleneck that may arise in the overall process.

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