Connaught Electronics Ltd

Welcome
21.10.2005
Connaught Electronics Ltd
Title:
Connaught Electronics Ltd

Author:
Shane Mooney EHS Manager

Abstract:
Connaught Electronics Ltd (CEL) is an indigenous Irish electronics company established in Galway in 1982 and currently employs 265 people. It is located in Ireland and the Czech Republic and designs and manufactures telemetry products. The company is a tier 1 and tier 2 supplier to World Class OEMs.

This presentation covered the following topics:

Background to Design for the Environment
  • Environmentally Superior Products project undertaken with the assistance of Enterprise Ireland
  • Cleaner Greener Production Programme Project undertaken with EPA
  • Objective: comply with regulations, save materials, energy and money
  • Redesign of an existing product to ensure we remain competitive
  • Investigation of effects of forthcoming legislation
Drivers for Design for the environment, including legislation such as the EU End of Life Vehicles Directive and the WEEE Directive, the waste hierarchy.

Lifecycle thinking and the importance of design, including the designers role was outlined:
  • Design for Disassembly
  • Design for reuse
  • Design out banned substances and design in requirements such as 5% recycled plastics.
  • Design products with non contaminant materials for recycling e.g. labels
  • Create bill of disassembly and provide data to recyclers in the future.
An example was then given about how the company had saved materials and money on the design of a receiver.

An outline was then given on the companies cleaner, greener production project:
  • EPA Programme
  • 18 month Project
  • A) Evaluation of water based coating
  • B) Introduction of returnable packaging for a new customer with LCA of plastic V?s Cardboard

The company?s future plans were also outlined:
  • Formal DFE training for all engineers
  • Reduce the volume of the Microwave Sensor by 20% delivering material savings
  • Explore the potential for further savings through the Master and Slave concept which could save 20% on materials, 30% on cost and could increase market share significantly
  • Investigate and demonstrate the use of ?Smart Plastics? to facilitate disassembly
  • Evaluate the feasibility of incorporating 10% recyclate material into plastic housing
  • Granulate some electronics to verify material contents


And conclusions drawn:
  • CGPP & ESP brought focus to potential Environmental improvements
  • Designers have the DFE principals which they will continue to use across new designs to create superior products
  • DFE is a necessity for your futures in the marketplace.
  • Saves us money this year and for years to come
  • Brilliant experience for CEL
  • Keeps us competitive and demonstrates proactive approach by CEL to the environment




For the documentation of the case study see Enterprise Ireland