Fine Tubes Achieves Major
Water Savings Through Submetering
As a facility running 24/7, Fine Tubes relies on a continuous water supply to support its chemical milling and pickling processes for manufacturing
high-precision tubing.
To determine the high usage areas, water meters were installed to determine the high usage areas. This revealed a key opportunity to reduce water usage in the chemical rinsing stages.
A Steady Flow of Sustainability Benefits
Following the review, solenoid valves and PLC program changes were installed, which automatically shut off water supplies if a process remained inactive for one hour.
In addition, digital flow meters were deployed and standard flow rates established, enabling precise control over water usage without compromising operational performance.
These measures have already delivered impressive results. In just six months, water usage was reduced by 4.4 million gallons - a 41% decrease, equivalent to saving over 9 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Mathew Davies, EHS Manager at Fine Tubes commented: “This initiative is a great example of how small changes in process control can lead to significant wins for sustainability.”
Dan Riden, Manager Process Optimisation and Continuous Improvement at Fine Tubes added: “It’s encouraging to see our teams embracing smarter water management without impacting production efficiency.”