May 20, 2010 
All of SEHO's 150 employees support the ideals of environmental protection and live by them. Clock timers, energy-saving lamps and a limitation of the time during which advertising signs or emergency exits are illuminated make sure that energy is being used only when it is actually needed.
The newly built logistics center uses state-of-the-art technology, and is fully equipped with electronic control gear and energy-saving lamps in order to reduce power consumption. Additionally, the window panes of older parts of the building have been lined with energy saving foil, reducing heating energy by 20 percent.
The company-owned vehicle fleet is being adapted to resource-saving technology, and company vehicles have been retooled to natural gas operation. New company cars make use of BlueMotion technology, making them more fuel-efficient. Also, all company staff is provided with free training lessons in fuel-saving.
The construction of the new logistics center marks another milestone ― A large photovoltaic installation with 262 solar modules adorns its roof. With its capacity of 60 kWp, it is in the upper third of Germany’s PV installations. In total, it provides approximately 19000 kWh of clean solar electricity.
Now, SEHO has taken its forward-thinking energy generation one step further and extended its commitment to the soldering machines it produces.
As inherent to the functional principle, soldering generates much heat. For instance, reflow ovens heat electronics assemblies to a soldering temperature of about 230°C and cool them down afterwards.
Today’s soldering machines are thermally isolated as a matter of course; however, there is always some unused residual heat that is unusable for the actual process and often needs to be dissipated using additional energy. SEHO has developed a unique heat recuperation system for its reflow ovens that has now been nominated for the “Bayerischer Energiepreis 2010” (Bavarian Energy Award 2010).
A collector between the machine’s two outer hoods collects the wasted heat from the reflow soldering machine. This heat can be transported to the manufacturing building either for use in a heat sink for the generation of tap water or in a preheating system for the fresh air supply. Warming of tap water in the manufacturing area is ideal because the soldering machine’s uptime is identical to the usage period of tap water, and water heating is the most efficient way to use wasted heat.
The process uses layered heat storage, which uses different temperature levels. In the lowest layer, the lower temperature level (e.g. the wasted heat from the reflow oven) is transferred to storage. The transition to the next higher temperature level (e.g. from a solar thermal installation) takes place in the second layer. The uppermost heat exchanger allows for the final process water temperature to be adjusted using a conventional boiler.
From an economic viewpoint, this heat recuperation system is advantageous because wasted heat from the reflow oven is basically free. On the basis of the reflow oven’s average power consumption, the recuperated wasted heat can reach 15 percent. The constructive effort is not too significant if the layered heat storage is already in place.
The operator of such a system not only benefits from a positive prestige, but also saves a great deal in energy costs, which may help to preserve jobs.
The general principle can be transferred to other heat-producing equipment and, thus, can play a vital part in preserving the environment.
Since its foundation in 1973, SEHO has become the worldwide contact partner whenever soldering is involved. Company solutions are based on performance, flexibility, efficiency and technical progress. SEHO’s business activities and production organization are oriented according to the principles of sustained future-compatible development and production of machines. As a result, all applicable environmental standards are complied with meticulously. With its systems, the company provides customers with a sustained and resource economizing production facility. It continuously develops its technology in order to provide customers with a competitive advantage. For more information, visit http://www.seho.de.
