Since Print Equipment was founded, the idea of doing business with the smallest possible carbon footprint and in a way that conserves resources has played a central role. This is why the company continues to focus increasingly on the use of renewable energies: In recent weeks, the company Elektro Birk from Oberkirch installed one of the largest façade photovoltaic systems in Germany on the entire east and south façades of the Print Equipment warehouses.
The façade equipment is just one part of Print Equipment’s comprehensive energy concept. The first hall with 5,500 square metres of storage space was built in 2017, and the first photovoltaic system (PVA) with 392 kilowatt peak (kWp) was installed on the roof the following year, generating 400,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per year. Last year, a second hall with an area of 4,000 square metres was added and a PV system with an output of 533 kWp was also installed on the roof.
The first façade PV system on the south side of the administration building with an output of 19 kWp was put into operation at the end of 2022. Façade PV allows solar radiation to be distributed more evenly throughout the day, which ensures good yields, especially in the winter months when the sun is low. It therefore made sense to utilise the façades of the warehouses for PV systems as well. The current installations cover the entire east (160 metres long) and south façades (55 metres long) of both warehouses, with the top 10 metres of the twelve metre wall height being used.
A battery storage system with 192 kWh was also installed to optimise self-consumption. The electricity generated is consumed, a portion is buffered in the storage unit and the rest is fed into the grid. ‘Our aim is to achieve as much self-sufficiency as possible and to buy in as little electricity as possible,’ emphasises Mario Panter, Managing Director of Print Equipment.
‘The PV systems are a further step towards a sensible eco-balance. I want to ensure that the buildings have as little environmental impact as possible,’ says the company boss. In addition to PV systems, the company is also focussing on innovative heating concepts, intelligent lighting control and the promotion of electromobility to achieve this goal.
Print Equipment
Print Equipment sees itself as a system house for customised printing technologies. As Europe’s leading wholesaler of sublimation products and equipment for transfer and digital direct printing, Print Equipment offers a wide range of different printing technologies. Founded in 1997, the company is headquartered in Ottersweier, Baden. Around 100 employees look after international customers and five German showrooms provide interested trade visitors with detailed insights into the world of customised printing technologies.
