A precision engineering company using sparks of electrical energy to cut through metal has invested in solar panels to reduce sky-high energy bills.
Erodatools has gained grant support to help install 240 solar panels on the roof of the Penistone factory it has owned for 52 years.
The second-generation family business specialises in electrical discharge machining (EDM) and CNC milling and turning which use energy-intense wire and spark erosion techniques to cut through conductive metals and mill intricate 3D component parts for industry.
Its new 102kwp photovoltaic system will generate more than 72,000 kwh green energy a year to help feed this power-hungry process.
It is estimated that this will slash the business’s annual electricity bills by £17,000 and reduce carbon emissions by 14.07 tonnes a year too.
Erodatool’s investment in solar power has been backed by a Low Carbon Grant delivered by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council through Net Zero Barnsley and supported by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA); part-funded by the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
Erodatools works manager Caroline Healey said: “As the business has grown, the amount of electricity we use has grown too and recent price hikes and shocks to the market have been challenging.
“The greatest proportion of our electrical consumption goes into our EDM and machining and we’ve known for a while that we have to do something to make us more resilient.
“But our investment in solar panels would have been significantly delayed until we could raise the funds if not for the support we’ve received to cover the initial outlay.
“The Low Carbon Grant essentially means that the photovoltaic system will pay for itself within four rather than five years. It’s great to have it up on the roof and working; helping us to reduce our dependence on the energy grid and reduce our carbon footprint.”
Erodatools was set up in 1972 by Ken and Tony Rolfe, Caroline’s dad and uncle. It employs a team of 12, including her brother Chris and sister Charlotte.
Turbine Energy of Doncaster fitted solar panels to the roof of the business’s 6,000 sq ft premises at Laurence Works and these have already started to help power 33 machines in the company’s workshop.
Enterprising Barnsley business support advisor Matthew Smith, who helped the company secure the Net Zero Barnsley grant, said: “Erodatools has built an excellent reputation as a specialist in precision engineering over the years, but intense EDM machining makes them, by nature, a high electricity demand business.
“We’re very pleased to have helped them secure a Low Carbon Grant to help them invest in solar panels so that they can start to generate some of their own green energy in-house as quickly as possible.
“The sooner a company is able to invest in innovative renewable energy solutions which suit their business, the sooner they will reap the long-term benefits both in terms of profitability and sustainability.”
Latus Group has acquired Yorkshire and Lincolnshire-based business, OH Services Limited (OHS).
The business is a prominent regional provider of occupational health services and is well-regarded for delivering highly specialised bespoke medical assessments tailored to the needs of the oil & gas, maritime and safety critical industries.
Operating from two key clinic locations in North East Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, OHS has built a strong reputation for its expertise in conducting a range of industry-specific medicals.
Latus works with businesses across a range of sectors to support their people achieve healthier working lives through proactive, preventable healthcare that supports regulatory compliance; improves colleague health & wellbeing and enhances employee engagement.
The acquisition of OHS further strengthens the Latus proposition, broadening the medical expertise across the Group, creating additional capacity for the combined customer base and increasing geographical reach. It also provides the business with greater access to the strategic markets of maritime, offshore renewables and oil and gas. Following the acquisition, Latus plans to invest in additional strategic locations, including Aberdeen and Norwich, to service these industries on a national scale. Jack Latus, CEO of Latus Group, said: “Our mission is to improve access to high-quality, data-driven healthcare in the workplace. The acquisition of OHS supports this ambition and demonstrates our continued commitment to providing safety-critical occupational health across some of the UK’s largest industrial businesses. “OHS is highly complementary to the Latus Group, which has a regional approach with national scale, and a commitment to delivering world-class service for customers. We look forward to welcoming the OHS team and clients to Latus, working together to improve the health, safety and wellbeing of employees across the UK.”