Need to shave 20% from your production-related energy costs?

For UK manufacturing firms that consume large amounts of energy in their production processes, and are therefore likely to be affected by the Government’s 2001 Climate Change Levy, new South Wales-based software supplier, Portico Software, may be able to help. The software is all about helping companies streamline their production practices and provide a cheaper, more efficient use of resources. Nick Gregory, the firm’s director comments: “Our product allows managers to isolate the production related parameters that make one production run more efficient than another and continually identify the reasons for that at the touch of a button. “A manufacturer is able to ask questions like ‘Am I using the best raw materials?’ and quickly see how subtle variations in these areas influence performance,” adds Gregory. The software – Production Analyser – could provide UK manufacturers with an invaluable tool with which to combat the new government policy that penalises excessive energy consumers. Already, in a pilot software implementation, a Birmingham-based steel manufacturer has used the software to help it achieve a 20%reduction in the amount of energy used per tonne of production. And that translates to bottom line savings. Established in June this year, Portico has attracted £1.7million of funding for its software as well as interest and admiration from the likes of Oracle, IEA and Siemens.