The Arburg Energy Efficiency Award was officially presented on Tuesday 18 March 2014. Since 2008, Arburg bestows this award each year to a company for outstanding activities in the field of energy efficiency. The winner for 2014 is Festo, leading global supplier of technology for automation. The company has won the award for the conception of its new plastic parts production facility, which is fully geared towards energy efficiency, as well as cooperation on the Freeformer.The Arburg Energy Efficiency Award 2014 was presented in the context of an evening event attended by some 40 invited guests, held at the Arburg headquarters in Lossburg.
Both award winner and Arburg take holistic approach to energy efficiency
In his welcome speech, Michael Hehl, Managing Partner and Spokesperson for the Arburg Management Team, emphasised the importance of the award: "With this award, we annually show our appreciation to companies who, like us, take an innovative, integrated and global approach to the subject of energy efficiency and who stand out on account of their corporate philosophy and activities. Previous recipients of the award include the Lego Group and Continental, for example.
In his speech honouring the prize-winner for 2014, Herbert Kraibühler, Managing Director Technology & Engineering, summarised his company's long-standing cooperation with Festo and the reasons for awarding it the Energy Efficiency Award 2014. "The intensive business relations between Festo and Arburg have grown over 30 years, with both family-run companies exchanging know-how that goes far beyond the product level. This happened both with regard to Festo's new plant in Hassel/St. Ingbert in Germany and to the Freeformer, which expanded the Arburg product portfolio in 2013 to include additive manufacturing. Both of these examples make important contributions to the future-oriented enhancement of energy and production efficiency and were therefore decisive for presentation of the Arburg Energy Efficiency Award 2014 to Festo."
Festo is proud to win the Arburg Energy Efficiency Award
In keeping with the special occasion, a five-strong high-powered delegation from Festo travelled to Lossburg to receive the award. Curt-Michael Stoll, Vice Chairman Festo AG & Co. KG, says: "The Arburg Efficiency Award has a very high importance for us, because it stands for Festo's innovative strength. I thank you fort he long term, close and good cooperation between our companies and families."In his speech, Dr. Claus Jessen, Director Product Supply at Festo, explained: "Since many years, we invest in energy efficiency. It's encouraging that our efforts and investments are recognised, which lends credence to the course we have embarked on." He explained that Festo had identified plastics technology as a key technology for the global competitiveness of its products several years ago and had decided to develop top-class expertise in this area. "Since then, we have consistently invested in sources of expertise, cutting-edge technology and a dedicated production building. Together with Arburg, we have taken a consistent approach in examining energy flows, asking new questions, finding new solutions and adopting new approaches," explained Dr. Claus Jessen. He also described how Festo was the first partner to have the privilege of testing the new Freeformer at its in-house rapid prototyping department even before market introduction. "This trusting cooperation is very important for us," he emphasised, expressing his thanks for the award and for the excellent cooperation on behalf of Festo with the words: "We're proud of it!"
