Related Vendors

Verein Deutscher Werkzeug- maschinenfabriken e. V. (VDW)

Taiwan Machine Tool & Accessory Builders' Association (TMBA)

SIMTOS (Seoul International Machine Tool Show)

Those who proceed too meticulously in the PCF calculation get lost

The PCF includes all greenhouse gas emissions caused by a product during the various phases of its lifecycle, explain those involved. The VDW project group initially agreed on the Cradle-to-Gate approach, focusing on resources, the production of preliminary products, and finally the production of the end product. This extends up to the point where the machine leaves the manufacturer's facility. Henning Bornkessel, Senior Manager Sustainability & Process Management at DMG Mori, explains the reasons for this approach: "The customer's perspective was crucial for us. And Cradle-to-Gate is a well-defined area where we can provide reliable statements."

The most heated discussions in the expert group arose around the question of how detailed the analysis needs to be. "Higher-level approaches demand a detailed examination of up to 99 percent of the mass of a machine," says Hackelöer. However, this is by no means feasible for machine tools. Therefore, the question arises as to what sense it makes to calculate the PCF down to the smallest washer. The focus was thus on a PCF calculation method that combines good accuracy with reasonable effort.

Through the PCR regulations in nine steps

In the PCR now available from the VDW project group, users are guided through the process in nine steps. The primary focus is on the machine and its components. Additionally, emissions generated directly on-site at the machine manufacturer, as well as purchased energy carriers allocated to the produced machines, are considered. Fundamentally, the manufacturer must first define the boundaries of consideration. Is it only about the product itself or the entire scope of delivery—including, for example, loading robots? Next, the machine is mentally "disassembled." All components are sorted by weight based on the parts list. Control cabinets and motors are considered separately because they may contain CRMs (Critical Raw Materials) such as rare earths, copper, or cobalt, which are associated with high CO₂ emissions. The guideline also offers a practical approach for their accounting.

With the Pareto principle to a verifiable PCF of the machine tool

It becomes interesting when considering the remaining mass of the machine (after subtracting the control cabinet and motors). At this point, the experts decided to apply the Pareto Principle (80/20 rule), named after the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, to simplify the process. Applied to the machine tool, this means that a few parts make up the majority of the mass and thus the carbon footprint. The task is to identify the parts that comprise at least 80 percent of the remaining mass based on the sorted parts list. Their PCF can then be calculated by multiplying weight by the appropriate emission factor. The emission factors of the different materials can be obtained either from the supplier or relevant databases. The remaining, non-accounted parts can be extrapolated, which is quick and, according to the experts' experience, leads to comparably good accuracy and a complete consideration of all parts. In the end, the sum of the individual footprints results in the PCF of the entire machine tool, which is expressed as a CO₂ equivalent in kilograms, providing a value that can be included in any sustainability report, verified, and compared with others.

This is how SMEs also achieve a reliable sustainability report

In addition to the described procedure, the VDMA standard sheet provides a sample calculation and definitions, explanations of relevant ISO standards, as well as references to freely accessible databases for emission factors. "All necessary information can be found in our document or in the specified public sources," emphasizes Süßdorf. This provides, for the first time, an approach that is also practicable for the numerous SMEs represented in the industry, the expert promises. Everything is easy to understand and can be carried out without any training.