Shares wouldn’t be risky if they were as safe as VSDs

Imagine for a moment this idyllic situation; you buy shares in a company where the return is guaranteed. People would queue up to invest their money in this new, risk free, stock market. Although such utopian circumstances don’t apply to the FTSE, they do apply to variable speed drives (VSDs). However, there isn’t a queue to buy these devices; perhaps because of a lack of understanding of the ROI they deliver. 

Installing a variable speed drive is the closest thing industry has to signing up for free money. They can reduce the energy bill on your application or system by more than the capital cost in a relatively short period. Furthermore, like our utopian stocks a VSD will pay yearly dividends - in the form of reduced energy bills. As energy prices continue to soar, the ROI on a VSD application increases in proportion to the bill. (Although I’m sure we would rather just keep the bills low.)

Perhaps greater awareness is required? Perhaps engineers should pay closer attention to the lifetime cost, including energy, of a system, rather than just its capital cost? Or perhaps finance and purchasing teams need to be made aware of what engineers already know – that VSDs are the lowest risk investment UK plc can make to bring its environmental and economic goals a step closer to fruition.



 

GAMBICA responds to Carbon Budget with a call for measured tax credits

~ Overall reaction to Government targets positive, but trade body would like to see specific measures focussed on energy saving technology ~

Dr Graeme Philp, the chief executive of the trade body GAMBICA, has responded to the Government’s carbon budget by calling for a tax credit system to encourage investment in energy saving technology.

Dr Graeme Philip of GAMBICA

GAMBICA is the UK-based organisation which represents the instrumentation, control, automation and laboratory technology industries.

Dr Philp argues that, while carbon reduction is a clear and present need, Government needs to address it in such a way that business in the UK remains on an equal footing with the rest of Europe. He believes that putting energy saving technology in the spotlight will help achieve this.

“The carbon budget contained a lot of very sensible ‘what’ but not enough ‘how’,” argues Philp. “Energy saving technology is Europe’s biggest energy resource. I believe that creating the right environment for businesses to learn about its implementation should be a prime carbon objective.

“There are tried and tested forms of technology that can help the UK meet the Government’s re-aligned target of a 50% emissions cut averaged across the years 2023 to 2027, compared with 1990 levels,” continued Philp. “It’s my belief that a tax incentive, probably in the form of a highly targeted credit, would be an excellent way of encouraging participation from business and industry.”

Dr Philp also made the following points:

•    The objective should be to build towards a sustainable manufacturing economy that both reduces the UK’s carbon footprint and re-establishes its engineering industry on a global footing
•    Government should work more closely with trade bodies who offer expertise in energy saving
•    Britain’s manufacturing economy currently operates using aging equipment. Encouraging the replacement of this equipment with energy efficient alternatives should be high on the Government’s agenda.

Dr Philp is available for interview to expand on the arguments expressed in this press release - contact Richard Stone or Oana Baetica on 01785 225416.  


Ends: 342 words

For further information contact: Steve Brambley, Deputy Director
Association for Instrumentation, Control, Automation & Laboratory Technology (GAMBICA), Broadwall House, 21 Broadwall, London SE1 9PL
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7642 8080
Fax: +44 (0)20 7642 8096
e-mail: sbrambley@gambica.org.uk
www: www.gambica.org.uk

Press enquiries: Richard Stone or Oana Baetica
Business Innovation Centre, Staffordshire Technology Park
Beaconside, Stafford, ST18 0AR
Telephone: +44 (0) 1785 225416
Fax: +44 (0) 1785 225416
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk  or oana@stonejunction.co.uk
www: www.stonejunction.co.uk  
Blog: www.stone-junction.blogspot.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/RichieStone
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/technicalPR
LinkedIn: http://uk.linkedin.com/in/technicalpragency

About GAMBICA: GAMBICA is the Trade Association for Instrumentation, Control, Automation and Laboratory Technology in the UK. It has a membership of over 200 companies including the major multinationals in the sector and a significant number of smaller and medium sized companies.

Ref: GAM039/06/11