Why sustainability matters for the flow control supply chain

As businesses in industry continually aim to become environmentally sustainable, the demands are increasingly pushed throughout the supply chains. Liquid and gas flow controls, ubiquitous throughout industry, are highlighted within the sustainability drive. Optimising the performance of valves and their controls can directly improve energy efficiency for end users. Moreover, procurement teams are progressively checking that flow control suppliers are achieving a holistic position to meet sustainability goals.

The main priorities for engineers involved in the design or maintenance of applications that rely on fluid or gas flow control are typically centred around operational performance, ease of design integration, and long-term reliability. While these criteria must be achieved, the energy efficiency imperative is increasingly important. It is vital for application end users to minimise energy costs, while the advantages that achieve this can also help procurement and sustainability governance teams approve manufacturers within their supply chain.

For example, Bürkert’s Kick and Drop coils within solenoid valves, have been designed to address the need for reduced energy use. A unique design minimises the power requirements to hold open the valve plunger, delivering energy savings of up to 80%. In a similar way, TwinPower valves, ideal for applications that remain open for long periods, only require power to move the valve, rather than maintaining its position.

Efficient control

In a flow control system, cost efficiency does not just depend on the energy required to actuate the valve, but it also relates to the media itself. In a dosing application, for example, surface acoustic wave (SAW) technology can achieve the most precise flow measurements.

Highly relevant within the pharma and food and beverage sectors, Bürkert’s FLOWave flow measurement sensor optimises ingredient use for batch control efficiency. This not only lowers fluid consumption and costs but also safeguards product quality and reduces waste.

In addition to media control, switching from pneumatically powered valves to electromotive process valves, particularly for large orifice applications, can also enhance cost and energy savings. This approach removes the inherent inefficiency of compressor-driven pneumatic systems, including the fluctuating process pressures to prevent valve movement, which consumes further energy.

The materials and design of the valves themselves also impact environmental sustainability, as well as cost. This is particularly true for applications that require valves constructed from stainless steel, which is not only expensive, but is also energy intensive to produce. To minimise the impact, Bürkert’s stainless steel valves are manufactured with hydroforming, where a tube is filled with water-oil emulsion and pressurised within a mould to form the shape. This process uses much less material while retaining the original thickness of the tube, ensuring suitability for high pressures. Similarly, technology within Bürkert’s flow control devices has also been designed to minimise stainless steel use. For example, the FLOWave flow measurement sensor weighs just a few kilos, compared to a Coriolis sensor that can tip the scales at around 50kg.

Environmental sustainability commitments

While efficient flow control devices, manufactured with low-impact materials and processes, directly affect costs and carbon footprint for the end user, the wider environmental sustainability commitments of technology suppliers should also be a focus, particularly for procurement teams.

Globally, Bürkert has a publicly stated goal to become CO2-neutral by 2028, representing a real reduction of 33% compared to its 2023 emissions. This will be achieved by the increased production of green electricity at Bürkert’s sites, combined with energy storage, as well as the reliance on more efficient building technology. Decarbonisation will also involve the further electrification of company mobility. Already in the UK, the field engineering and applications team rely on an electric car fleet. To support customers in their general approval of their suppliers, the process and results of this environmental commitment are fully validated.

The sustainability strategy

Environmental commitments are essential, but they are not the only sustainability imperative. Following the UN Sustainability Development Goals, there is a strong focus on economic and social sustainability.

Image 1: Bürkert’s commitment to sustainability encompasses all aspects of the business